THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF RESEARCH
UNIVERSITIES (IARU)
The International Alliance of Research Universities
(IARU) was established in 2007 and is a collaboration between ten of the world's leading researchintensive universities. IARU jointly addresses grand
challenges facing humanity. The Alliance has identified sustainable solutions on climate change as one
of its key initiatives. As a demonstration of its commitment to promote sustainability, IARU has sought
to lead by example through establishing the Campus Sustainability Program, which aims to reduce
the environmental impact of our campus activities.
It also organises international scientific congresses
on sustainability and climate challenges.

READERS’ GUIDE
This guide consists of nine chapters that address key
areas for sustainability at universities – these range
from laboratory design to managerial and organisational aspects. Each chapter consists of five elements:
1

Introduction, outlining why the theme is important.

2

Challenges and opportunities, presenting some of the
key factors to address and giving suggestions for important approaches and tools.

3

Hurdles and solutions, outlining suggestions and providing inspiration for key questions about the area.

Quick tips, further reading, and links for where to find
more information.

The guide can either be read comprehensively from beginning to end – which will give the reader an integrated
picture of how to work with sustainability at universities
– or the reader can choose to focus on specific areas and
individual chapters.

We have th
opportunit e
y
create cultu to
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of sustaina
bility for
today’s stu
d
and to set ents,
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expectatio heir
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the world s s for how
hould be
Universities can play a significant role in forging the path to a sustainable future. By their
nature, universities are focused on research,
teaching and service and as institutions, they
are tasked with training the world's future
leaders. As universities’ mission and activities
are not directly tied to financial or political
gain, they have the capacity to test systems and
technologies, and to advance innovative solutions to global challenges in ways that companies and municipalities cannot.
Universities manifest sustainability in two
ways that should be complementary, but are
often seen as distinct – curriculum and operations. Academic staff members are generally
considered authorities and have the capacity to
actively contribute to solutions at various stages and levels. As we demonstrate to the public,
staff, and students that we are responsible and
willing to take the lead in creating a more sustainable tomorrow, we are doing so in a way
that benefits from the credibility of the university voice. In other words, we have the ability to
manifest sustainability – not only in theory,
but in practice in everyday life on university
campuses.
4

Given the nature and scope of global sustainability challenges, there is a real responsibility
and urgency associated with tackling operational sustainability within our universities.
There is also a need for a paradigm shift from
institutions developing ad hoc sustainability
programmes autonomously to a more collaborative effort to unite voices and learn from
each other’s experiences. For this reason, the
International Alliance of Research Universities
(IARU) have taken on the challenge to work together to promote and share our joint best experiences on the road to sustainability.
Universities face particular challenges: energy-intensive laboratories and the use of hazardous substances; internationalisation and
increasingly collaborative research leading to
increased international flights; high student
turnover; and very diverse , often old, buildings that can be difficult to make more energyand water-efficient.
GREEN GUIDE FOR UNIVERSITIES

Yale University Photo: William K. Sacco

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Universities are training tomorrow’s leaders.
We have the opportunity to create cultures of
sustainability for today’s students, and to set
their expectations for how the world should
be. At the same time, we are creating healthier,
cleaner, safer, and more productive workplaces
for university employees and students. In providing real-world examples of environmental,
financial, and social successes, we hope to inspire innovation and creative action in universities around the globe.
GREEN GUIDE FOR UNIVERSITIES

This guide reflects both the challenges and opportunities of campus sustainability, with a
particular focus on the environmental aspects
of sustainability, and it offers key tactics and
lessons learned by IARU universities. The guide
is not intended to be all-inclusive, but is instead
a set of examples, tools, and anecdotes to inform and inspire sustainability professionals
– particularly if you are just embarking on the
journey.
5

»

There is no set way
to organise campus
sustainability, but
how such an initiative
is structured will
shape the university’s
capacity for results
and success

6

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ORGANISATION

E
L
B
A
N
I
A
T
N
S
S
O
SU MPU SATI
I
A
N
C GA
OR
CHAPTER 1

Universities are complex organisations that house a range of
buildings and spaces, such as libraries and laboratories, as well
as services – from teaching and research to housing and catering. Challenges to sustainability programming and engagement
include that campuses are often geographically spread out and
that various academic and administrative departments tend to
have distinct identities and cultures. Additionally, since the 2008
recession, many universities have had to cut back on funding for
activities that are not considered core to the mission.
There is no set way to organise campus sustainability, but how
such an initiative is structured will shape the university’s capacity
for results and success. By establishing mechanisms to set goals,
implementing activities to support those goals, and regularly reporting on progress, universities can lead by example while they
are training tomorrow’s leaders.
No matter what the context of the campus, or how far along its
sustainability efforts are, it is critical for ‘green’ planning and implementation to reflect the three pillars of sustainability: ecosystem vitality, financial viability, and human well-being. The more
that environmental benefits can be associated with positive financial and social outcomes, the more engaged members of the
community will be.

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ORGANISATION

7

Challenges and
Opportunities
Strategic planning
Although sustainability initiatives can and do
happen without top-level support, sustainability has to be an institutional priority if ‘green’
projects are to compete with other demands for
time and funding. The transition from individual ideas to a comprehensive, university-wide
programme requires perseverance, leadership
and championship at various levels – regardless
of top management’s commitment.
However, involving campus leadership will afford the various projects legitimacy and encourage buy-in from key stakeholders, which in
turn will increase the readiness to implement
more ambitious tools, such as energy-management systems and standards (see box).
To develop a management system or a strategic
sustainability plan, the ideal scenario is to convene a campus-wide committee of top officials
to agree on and take ownership of sustainability initiatives, as exemplified by the Campus
Steering Committee at the University of Copenhagen, which includes all the Deans, the Rector
and Pro-rectors. These administrators decide
on overall targets and priorities, which then
form the basis of the Green Campus projects.
Once some top-leadership support has been secured, the next step is conducting a ‘landscape
review’ to see how other organisations have
structured their efforts. This exercise should
yield valuable lessons regarding both what to
do and what not to do, and these results can

8

There are several steps to institutionalising
sustainability management systems. Foundationally, there are four steps: Plan, Do,
Check, Act. As sustainability programmes
mature, this cycle should also include Report and Adjust. Reporting will strengthen
the sense of accountability and providing
leeway to adjust programmes will allow for
more ambitious goal-setting.

then be used to develop templates to assist with
information-gathering and ultimately goal-setting.
In order to keep the institution on-task and to
coordinate between key actors, there will need
to be an allocation of financial and human resources. Ideally, this will take the form of a dedicated office or department that is responsible
for the overall management of sustainability
activities with full-time resources, responsibilities, and budgets.

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ORGANISATION

»

Setting goals
Once the basic elements of a plan have been
established – i.e., categories for goals, timeline,
likely desirable outcomes etc. – it is critical to
identify ‘delegates’ who will support the development and implementation of the plan and
who will subsequently be held accountable for
specific projects and goals. The goals included
in the plan should be ambitious but realistic,
measurable and time-bound. During the planning process, it is imperative to establish systems to measure results and to hold groups and
individuals accountable. If, for example, the
university opts to commit to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 10%, how is that to be
measured? By whom? With what frequency?
And what programmes will support the transition to solutions that are more energy-efficient
and will reduce carbon emissions?
As goals are being set, it is also critical to establish baselines and tactics for collecting metrics.
Some might consider this a first step, but to
start with what you can measure may also be
limiting and might preclude some of the most
environmentally impactful themes. If, instead,
the process is structured to identify what
should be managed and then determine how
to quantify those factors, the plan can be more
inclusive and effective.

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ORGANISATION

As goals ar
e
being set, it
also critica is
l to
establish b
aselines
and tactics
collecting mfor
etrics

Cases in which there should be mechanisms
to quantify outcomes but the data is weak or
missing will highlight the need for data collection and analysis. For targets or projects
that do not lend themselves well to quantification, such as behaviour-change campaigns,
it is often possible to identify proxy indicators;
for instance, tallying the number of clicks for
a particular link, assessing staff commitment
by collecting pledges, or tallying participants
in green workplace programmes.
Finally, it is important to continually explore
and communicate about best practices and
ways for various members of the community
to get involved. It is crucial that regular progress reports reference the environmental, financial, and social benefits of sustainability
programmes.

9

HURDLES AND
SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS FOR
SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS
ORGANISATION

What if a leadership
transition results in shifting
institutional priorities?
Get a sense of the new leaderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s style
and values. Tailor the approach and
activities to that perspective.

What if the financial
rationale is difficult to
estimate?
What if individuals or groups on
campus do not feel compelled
to support initiatives?
Determine what matters to people
and use those values as a means to
communicate with them. For example,
if environmental concerns will not
inspire custodians to use green cleaning products, talk to them about their
own health. Prioritise collaboration with
people who demonstrate support.

10

Ensure that the full perspective
is being considered. With energy
systems, for instance, conduct a
return-on-investment analysis for
maintaining a building with a less
expensive but more inefficient
system. If the financials do not
add up, consider whether there
may be other benefits that will justify a commitment, such as better
or healthier conditions for working
and studying.

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ORGANISATION

What if we lack support from top
management?
Identify and engage with other key internal stakeholders who can contribute to management awareness and support. You should also build a portfolio
of successful programmes and then use metrics from
those successes to revisit the subject with top management.

How do we decide which
of the many environmental
issues to deal with?
Set priorities – you will not be able
to address all issues simultaneously. Identify the areas of biggest
impact and then start with projects
that offer low-hanging fruit and
easily relate to financial and social
drivers. Energy efficiency (and,
consequently, the reduction of CO2
emissions) is usually a good place
to start.

What if a goal is not being met?
Monitor performance along the way to
ensure that the responsible parties and
management are aware of the project’s
(lack of) progress. Call attention to the
behaviours and systems that should be
updated, and use this as an opportunity to
‘rally the troops’ around the issue.

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ORGANISATION

11

How do we set a
goal when there is no
existing data?
Rather than setting a goal
for the entire focus area,
start by setting a goal for
establishing a baseline by a
given time. For example, if an
institution wants to introduce
composting but does not
know what percentage of its
waste stream is composed
of organic materials, it will
be difficult to set realistic
targets. The first step in this
instance would be to conduct a waste audit and then
use that data to set goals.

CASE 1
DEPARTMENTLEVEL
PLANNING
L E
YA SIT Y
ER
V
I
UN

5

In 2010, Yale launched its first Sustainability Strategic Plan.
While it was a major milestone in sustainability efforts on
campus, it was not well suited to inspire individual actions
among the employees and students. For example, the average person could not really do anything to support the
renewable-energy targets, and few employees or students
could relate their own daily choices (in terms of purchasing, energy use, etc.) to the goals of the plan.
In an attempt to address this disconnect, the Yale Office of
Sustainability piloted a programme to establish Sustainability Action Plans for three of its ten professional schools
and, over the course of one year, the Sustainability group
worked with teams of students and employees to develop
documents that were tailored to the unique culture of each
of these Schools. In each case, this resulted in sustained
efforts over the course of the plan. Based on this pilot,
the 2013-2016 Yale Sustainability Strategic Plan includes
a commitment to develop a Sustainability Action Plan for
each of the professional schools. These plans have three
aims:
1

Highlighting specific goals from the university-wide
plan where a particular school can support success

2

Spelling out particular actions that will help green
the physical presence of a particular school (for example, recycling signage or reducing paper)

3

Emphasising the links between sustainability and the
particular discipline of each school.

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

12

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ORGANISATION

ACTION PLAN
WA ST
MANAGE ME NT

PROCUR EM EN
EN ERGY

The main challenge to this initiative has been â&#x20AC;&#x2030;gaining support from department administratorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;. To address this, the
Yale team presented the financial rationale of particular suggestions, then asked if there was another member of their
community who might be a champion and take the lead on
developing a plan. In addition, the sustainability team used
Pinterest to create a set of boards for the various schools;
these contain news items, images, blog posts, and websites
that clearly illustrate the connections between each discipline and sustainability. Examples include:
www.pinterest.com/mbgoodall/music-sustainability
www.pinterest.com/mbgoodall/nursing-sustainability
www.pinterest.com/mbgoodall/art-sustainability

As each plan is completed and announced by its dean or director, a summary is posted to the Office of Sustainability's
website. The plans are considered to be living documents, so
the sustainability team remains in communication with each
school about its successes and challenges, and fosters dialogue between the various communities.
sustainability.yale.edu/planning-progress/department-level-plans

In 2008, the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) established the Green Campus Office to develop strategies for
sustainability activities and within the first six months, two
key targets for energy efficiency and CO2 reduction were
approved by management. These became the office’s main
focus in the following years, with the goal of a 20% reduction of CO2 emissions and energy consumption per fulltime equivalent in 2013 compared to 2006 levels .
This gave UCPH just five years to set up the organisation
and identify the necessary activities and investments. Retrofitting laboratory buildings is particularly challenging as
these projects are usually quite complicated and need to
be coordinated closely with research activities that must
not be jeopardised. However, this short timeline also created a sense of urgency, which enabled a strict focus on
activities that contribute to bottom-line results on energysavings and CO2 reduction.
The Green Campus Office develops strategies, action
plans and policies which are then approved by the Campus
Steering Committee along with decisions on investment/
funding of the activities. From 2009-2013, management
allocated approximately USD 25 million in energy efficiency and CO 2 reduction activities, resulting in savings of approximately USD 7 million annually , as well as additional
major decisions on district cooling and energy efficiency
in new buildings.
The Green Campus Office publishes an annual report on
progress toward achieving its stated sustainability targets.
The target was achieved in 2013: CO2 emissions were reduced by 28.8% and energy consumption by 20.4% per full
time equivalent employee and student .

14

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ORGANISATION

GREEN LIGHTHOUSE
Green Lighthouse (UCPH) is
Denmarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first public carbonneutral building. The Green
Lighthouse is a one-stop shop
where students can get advice
on their studies, exams, etc.

The Green Campus Office is organisationally located within
the Campus Services department, which deals with overall
campus planning, campus economy, and campus building.
One major advantage of this location is that it becomes possible to integrate sustainability efforts into strategies and decisions regarding campus development, as well as into new
buildings and programmes for retrofitting/maintaining existing buildings. Furthermore, the Office is in close proximity
to Facilities Management, which is crucial in developing an
energy and environmental management system.

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ORGANISATION

15

QUICK TIPS

›
›
›
›
›
›

Create a portfolio of easy-to-access tools.
This can include certifications (workplace,
labs, events), games, presentations, posters,
a library of videos, etc.
Establish the ‘brand’ and a set of identity
guidelines so that all materials are consistent
and coordinated.
Different people require different messaging,
so be dynamic in your outreach approach.
Focus your communication so as not to
dilute the message.
Business managers are often champions,
as they link systems and the bottom-line
in ways that lend themselves well to
sustainability policies.
Hire students to support the work, which
provides an affordable workforce and offers
a learning experience.
Don't reinvent the wheel. When you have
a project idea, look to see what other
universities are doing to gain inspiration.

16

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS ORGANISATION

A Closer Look
Annual environmental reporting
Annual reports with compelling graphics are an
excellent way to tell success stories and call attention to issues that need to be addressed. To develop
these reports, establish baselines and systems for
collecting metrics. Then identify which employee is
accountable for each metric. The process of collecting and analysing data, and then writing and formatting the report, can be very time-consuming.
So keep it simple, as the target group is limited but
important.

The campus should
become a classroom,
with each element of
its operations a lesson
in how to live and work
more sustainably

CAMPUS WIDE OPERATIONS

S
U
P
M
S
CA DE
N
O
I
I
T
W ERA
P
O
CHAPTER 2

University campuses are unique, and their designs and activities reflect specific institutional and community needs. However,
most share similar challenges when trying to establish environmentally sustainable campus operations.
Any university’s environmental performance is directly influenced
by the interconnectivity between the physical environment, campus operations and organisational/community activities; thus,
integrated strategies need to be developed. For example, sustainable landscape management may include planning for water
conservation, biodiversity protection, and community-sensitive
design that facilitates social engagement.
The campus itself should be considered a classroom, with each
element of its operations a lesson in how to live and work more
sustainably. This could include placing energy/water dashboards
in public areas that detail real-time consumption, producing regular formal reports that detail performance against goals, or establishing ‘sustainability in action’ designs for all new infrastructure (i.e., prominently displaying photovoltaic cells that generate
renewable energy for buildings, or establishing campus landscape designs that highlight water conservation or biodiversity).
Anonymous sustainability operations must also become a thing
of the past and, whenever possible, new developments should
make an organisational statement about sustainability, with visual cues reminding the community of the institution’s commitment.

CAMPUS WIDE OPERATIONS

19

»

Challenges and
Opportunities
The first critical step in establishing sustainable campus operations is to fully understand
their environmental impacts, a process that
includes:
• Establishing environmental measures for
all key activities.
• Assessing the way policy and process drive
organisational decision-making and how
that may influence the sustainability of operations.
• Measuring the effectiveness of campus design and technology on environmental outcomes.
• Assessing the sustainability skill levels of
the employees operating and maintaining
the campus.
• Measuring the impact of community behaviour.
Once these have been mapped, an approach
can be established, based on the principles of
technological efficiency and corporate conservation, that will synchronise operations with
the sustainability goals that have been established by the university.

Energy management
In the absence of renewable technologies, energy consumption can be the main source
of greenhouse gas emissions on a campus.
Whether it is maintaining environment control
in buildings or the growth of information and
communications technology (from the desktop
to the campus data centre), power demand is
trending up in a sector that is getting bigger
every year.
The first step in reducing energy consumption
is to understand the optimal performance of
infrastructure systems (both old and new), and
to achieve and maintain it with regular and
targeted maintenance by employees with sufficient training and technological skills.
Long-term approaches include investments in
large scale plants and equipment, such as solarenergy systems and building management systems to establish energy-efficient controls for
lighting and air-conditioning, as well as largescale power-generation strategies, including co
(or tri) generation, which has the added benefit
of providing district heating and/or cooling.
Installing effective metering technology will
help to identify infrastructure failures that are
effectively wasting energy, including thermal
leakage through poor insulation or external
lighting that fails to switch off.

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Water management
Although universities in some regions may
not face water shortages, water conservation
should nonetheless constitute a founding principle in all environmental programmes, as natural resources should never be wasted.
Facility Managers should know how and when
water is being used, and be able to access data
that allows analysis of the infrastructure's performance in order to identify any system failures, such as pipe or tap leakage. Again, maintenance by employees with sufficient training
and technological skills is paramount.
Wherever possible, alternatives to potable water should be used, such as harvesting rainwater or on-site recycling of water, which can then
be used in operational activities, such as irrigation (see also landscape management) or toilet
flushing.
Programmes that promote behaviour changes,
such as taking shorter showers in the student
accommodation or running the dishwasher in
the staff kitchens only once a day, constitute
effective and relatively low-cost conservation
strategies.

22

Landscape management
Contrary to popular belief, the quality of open
spaces and the landscape itself is of equal importance to internal spaces and the built environment, as natural landscapes can reduce
energy demand for air-conditioning in the
summer through effective shading. Tree plantings can be used to create breeze corridors that
make the external environment more pleasant
for community use, while also having the practical effect of sequestering carbon emissions
generated by campus activities.
However, poor design or management can
mean that irrigation, for example, becomes a
large part of the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water consumption, and it can also be a major contributor to
the waste streams, particularly where there is
inadequate bin infrastructure to capture material that could be recycled or composted for reuse (see waste management).

Regional/indigenous vegetation that
is better able to cope with seasonal
changes and thus does not need artificial irrigation.

•

Where irrigation is needed, infrastructure to harvest and channel rainwater.

•

Space that supports social interaction
and community engagement with natural surroundings.

•

Land use and maintenance regimes that
protect and enhance biodiversity.

The challenge for most universities is to identify biodiversity on their campuses. Only when
that is done can they establish protection strategies that allow ecosystems and campus activities to co-exist harmoniously.
Several methods can be employed to
measure biodiversity:

Biodiversity protection
Biodiversity is sometimes the forgotten element
of sustainable campus operations as it is often
seen as having little to do with the activities of
a university. However, as evidenced time and
again, the disruption or destruction of key ecosystems can have wider impacts on the health
of a regional environment. For example, the
loss of natural balance can cause an increase in
pest species that then have an adverse effect on
the community.

• Formal eco-audits of the campus and its
surrounding region.
• Engaging the community – train people to
identify local species, and then establish a
process for them to report sightings or problems1.
• Research what is already known – look at
what academic research has been done on
the biodiversity of the region and/or use
the knowledge of long-term residents and
(where appropriate) the indigenous community.
Yale University:
www.sustainability.yale.edu/research-education/citizen-science

1

CAMPUS-WIDE OPERATIONS

23

Dining services
The procurement and preparation of food –
either in residential halls or as part of the
campus' commercial activities – can have significant impacts in terms of energy, water, and
waste generation. In addition, there are real
environmental impacts associated with certain
food choices. There are several ways to introduce sustainability into dining and catering
services:
• Reduce ‘food miles’ by buying from local
producers.
• Plan the menu based on what is naturally in
season to reduce the energy needed to produce, transport, and store food.
• Emphasise quality over quantity in order to
reduce overall waste.
• Check to be sure vendors are using minimal
chemicals.
• Collect food waste for compost.

Waste management
Universities need to establish an effective
process that minimises the amount of waste
that goes to landfill. This can be supported by
a bin infrastructure that efficiently streams
waste that can be recycled or reused. The bin
infrastructure should allow easy access by the
community members directly involved in disposal; e.g., cleaners, gardeners, kitchen and
maintenance employees, and bins should be
clearly marked to reduce incidents of crosscontamination. They should be placed in areas
both convenient and close to the waste source;
e.g., paper-recycling bins under desks and foodrecycling bins in kitchens and common areas.
All sustainable waste management programmes should include strategies for re-using
materials, including furniture, books, and computer and lab equipment. If equipment can no
longer be used on campus but is still functional,
there may be opportunities to donate to charitable groups in the community. Garden waste
can also be collected and turned into compost
to be re-used on campus.

FOOD MILES
Food miles describe the distance that food
is transported as it travels from producer to
consumer. Choosing food that is local and in
season means that it does not have to travel
so far. Reducing food miles can have a dramatic effect on reducing CO2 emissions.

24

CAMPUS-WIDE OPERATIONS

THE BIN INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD
ALLOW EASY ACCESS
BY THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS DIRECTLY
INVOLVED IN
DISPOSAL; E.G.,
CLEANERS,
GARDENERS, KITCHEN
AND MAINTENANCE
EMPLOYEES.

CAMPUS-WIDE OPERATIONS

25

HURDLES AND
SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS FOR
CAMPUS-WIDE OPERATIONS

How do we promote
accountability and
ownership?
Embed sustainability into
organisational policies,
procedures, and processes.
Establish useful benchmarks
and reporting initiatives and
designate areas of responsibility.

How do we combat resource
restraints (both financial and
human)?
Partner with relevant stakeholders; e.g.
local government, to provide outside
funding and link with local initiatives
seeking similar goals.

How do we reduce water
consumption cost-effectively?
Engage your community by having them report water waste, such
as leaking taps, ruptured pipes, or
malfunctioning irrigation systems.
Promote the principle of active water
conservation by encouraging shorter
showers, and minimal use of potable
water in research activities and campus operations.

26

How do we reduce
the amount of campus
waste going to landfill?
Conduct audits to understand
your waste streams. Minimise
waste by maximising resource
values and applying a waste
hierarchy across all resource
streams. That is, waste
avoidance, reduction, re-use,
recycling, and disposal – in
that order.

CAMPUS-WIDE OPERATIONS

How do we protect biodiversity?
Begin by linking with local research and
conservation groups to map biodiversity
on campus, and then measure the impact
of operational/community activities and development. Once you have this information,
establish strategies to minimise any threat
to sensitive ecosystems, including setting
up protection zones.

How can we make
refrigeration in the kitchen
more energy-efficient?
Establish a regular programme
of checking and replacing seals
on refrigerator and cold-room
doors to minimise leakage.

How should we handle the disposal
of IT waste?
Where possible, set up cradle-to-grave contracts with vendors , making them responsible
for the sustainable disposal of everything
from packaging to equipment at the end of
life. Where that is not an option, see if equipment can be re-used by the community or
other groups. Often, charitable organisations
will have systems for re-distributing functional
equipment, provided it is not too old. Otherwise, ensure companies hired to recycle IT
waste do so in a socially and environmentally
responsible manner.

CAMPUS-WIDE OPERATIONS

27

CASE 3
ENERGY
NETWORK
Z
ETH

U RI

5

CH

There is no doubt that there is a need to dramatically reduce consumption of fossil fuels. The aim of ETH Zurich's
new energy concept is to radically reduce the specific energy density in the area and thus also the CO2 emissions .
In doing so, the energy flows in the individual buildings will
be connected to efficient heat-recovery systems, for instance (technical and structural reduction scale).
With its dynamic underground storage system, ETH Zurich's campus Hönggerberg, will minimise consumption
of fossil-generated energy. Hönggerberg should become
fossil-free for heating by 2025. The underground storage
fields will be laid on an area of around ten football pitches,
and between 100 and 200 geothermal probes per field will
be arranged on a 5x5-metre grid at depths of 200 metres
into the ground. This depth offers the optimal combination
of energy storage and use for the system.
The underground storage systems will be subdivided into
geothermal probe groups in order to be able to respond to
different heating and cooling needs, especially in the transition periods. A ring-line network will connect the building
and the underground storage fields.
Individual buildings or building groups will be supplied
with energy via the centres, which are connected to the
ring-line network.

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

28

CAMPUS-WIDE OPERATIONS

The heat pumps for processing low-temperature heat are
located in these centres. When designing new buildings,
the maximum supply temperature permitted for heating
is 30째C, and for renovations a maximum of 35째C. In peak
periods (winter/summer), the conventional energy production from the energy centre serves as redundancy for the
heat and cooling supply. Another component of the energy
concept is the dynamic free-cooling system (re-cooling
system), which is intended to support the cooling cycle.

Established in 2007, the ANU organic waste recycling programme diverts approximately 136
tonnes of food and biological waste from landfill
each year, and instead converts it into a highgrade compost, which is used in the students'
vegetable gardens and the campus landscape.
The activity is a collaboration between the university’s Facilities & Services Division and the
Student Residential Halls, which collect a significant portion of the food waste from dining halls.
A smaller portion of uncontaminated organic
matter is also collected from research areas. This
material is then put through a large in-vessel
composting unit that uses an aerobic process to
convert it into a rich compost within two to three
weeks.
This is a far more sustainable method of disposing of organic waste, which, if left to rot in landfill, would release large volumes of methane and
other greenhouse gases.

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

30

CAMPUS-WIDE OPERATIONS

Other benefits of turning food waste into
compost include:
• Reduced fossil fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions from transporting foodwaste off-campus to landfill.
• Production of organic rich soil conditioner and compost, reducing the need
to purchase in-organic fertilizers and additional soils.
• Reduced build-up and concentration of
hazardous compounds and run-off at
landfill sites which can contaminate both
soil and waterways.
The project has also provided a number of educational and research opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

136 to
of foo nnes
waste d

CAMPUS-WIDE OPERATIONS

31

CASE 5
ENERGYMANAGEMENT
INITIATIVE (EMI)

F
YO
SIT IA ,
R
E
IV
RN
UN LIFO LEY
CA RKE
BE

5

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

The University of California, Berkeley, is working to incentivise energy-savings efforts across several programmatic
areas. Its new Energy Management Initiative and Incentive
Program offers the chance for departments to directly
benefit from their conservation efforts by giving financial
savings back to the users.
Prior to Berkeley’s Energy Management Initiative, units
around campus were not provided with a statement of
their energy use. And although the campus was spending
around USD 17 million per year on electricity costs alone,
this meant that energy was generally treated as a free
commodity.
In its first year, the EMI Program built momentum towards
establishing energy efficiency as a social norm and part
of the day-to-day operations of the university. Since the
launch of EMI in April 2012, the project has achieved savings of almost USD 2.0 million – surpassing the planning
estimates – and did so while remaining 12% under budget.
These savings represent a 1,500 tonne reduction in greenhouse gases and fulfill part of the campus Energy Management Initiative's mission to not only save energy but also to
return those funds to teaching and research.
For access to detailed programme information and resources provided to the campus community, see:
www.mypower.berkeley.edu

Assess and enhance the sustainability
skill levels of the employees who are
operating and maintaining the campus.
Look at what academic research has
already been done on the biodiversity
of the region.
Include IT waste, lab equipment and
organics in waste management programmes.

34

CAMPUS-WIDE OPERATIONS

A Closer Look
The University of Tokyo – Energy Management
The University of Tokyo is the largest energy user in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and it has taken the lead in innovative
energy systems and sustainability related research. The Todai
Sustainable Campus Project (TSCP) was established to facilitate
university-wide engagement towards the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and to apply organisational capacity and
funding for efforts that will reduce carbon intensity on campus.
The management established the TSCP fund by collecting an ‘internal tax’ from all graduate schools and institutes, which was
equivalent to 4% of expenditures for energy use in each school
and institute. The TSCP fund provides a subsidy to give each
graduate school and institute incentive to invest in energy-conserving opportunities.
www.tscp.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en

FURTHER READING
LITERATURE
’Designing a sustainable campus
precinct: ANU Green Precinct
Project Final Report‘
’Regenerative Sustainable Development of Universities and Cities: Role
of Living Laboratories‘. Ariane Konig
(editor). The book collects a wide
range of case studies, including
several on sustainable campus design
and operations.
www.e-elgar.co.uk/bookentry_main.
lasso?id=14845

Though we may love the outdoors, on average, we spend approximately 70% of our lives inside. Buildings have become our natural habitat and have a profound impact on our lives and a great
impact on the environment, both locally and globally. Buildings
account for nearly 40% of total energy use, and our resource consumption and the waste generation attributed to construction of
buildings is also very significant. So campus buildings offer one
of the greatest opportunities for improvement when it comes to
making universities more sustainable.
University building portfolios generally have a varied selection of
new and old buildings. Some of these are heritage listed buildings
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; judged to be of national importance in terms of architectural or
historic interest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which can make upgrades difficult to implement.
Retrofitting an existing building can often be more cost-effective
than building a new facility, though with existing buildings there
are opportunities to retrofit windows, roof, and heating systems
all of which often have shorter lifespans than the buildings themselves.
Clever design can greatly influence the operational costs once a
building has been erected or retrofitted. Energy and water consumption are obvious areas of focus and monitoring and auditing these will further reduce consumption and create even more
monetary savings. Informing building users how to use the building optimally is fundamental to ensuring that buildings operate to
their peak performance abilities.
The real challenge lies in convincing university management to invest in more sustainable buildings which reduce long term costs.
It is important to understand and effectively communicate the
benefits, which include greater resource efficiency and associated
cost savings, as well as better health and productivity for employees and students.

BUILDINGS

37

Challenges and
Opportunities

Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Analysis
Building and renovating sustainably involves
planning and taking into consideration the full
life-cycle perspective on buildings. This means
assessing both the environmental impact and
economic value of a building over its entire lifetime â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from extraction of resources to demolition and recycling.
LCC is a tool for determining the economic
costs and benefits of specific systems, for example, heating over the lifetime of the building.
It is a valuable tool when attempting to improve
an operational feature of a building that is related to how that building was designed.

It is important to note that construction costs
are often not the largest part of the total cost
of owning and running a building. The costs associated with maintenance and operations are
often higher than construction, so investing
in energy efficiency as well as waste and water management can bring significant savings.
Other notable benefits, such as significantly improved indoor air quality, can lead to increased
productivity and higher work attendance,
which can justify an investment in sustainable
construction or retrofitting.

To learn more about the difference between Life Cycle Cost (LCC)
Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), see Case 7 on page 45.

Certification schemes
Green-building certification schemes are used
across several IARU campuses. Designing,
building and renovating according to external
certification standards for buildings is advantageous for environmental and financial reasons
– from energy and water efficiencies that lead
to monetary savings, to demonstrating best
practice and enhanced image and reputation
for the campus and the university as a whole.

It is important to involve the university's sustainability office in the design stage in order to
challenge consultants and to push for higher
environmental performance standards. Conducting an ‘eco-charrette’ is a good way to start
and involves bringing various stakeholders together, from students and faculty to employees
and administrators to engineers and architects
(see A Closer Look).

The age of campus buildings need not be a deterrent. Older campuses can also see results by
placing emphasis on major renovations and by
conducting these according to the benchmarks
set by certification awards, as most certification schemes also include assessments of major
refurbishments.

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
• Develop partnerships with service
providers in the building supplychain – architects, consultants, builders, material suppliers, and campus
regulatory bodies like the Fire
Marshal and Environmental Health &
Safety in order to get them involved
at an early stage.

External certification schemes also provide for
adherence to pre-determined and verifiable
benchmarks for the environmental performance of a building, as well as offering a process and methodology for ensuring that these
benchmarks are met in design, construction
and actual performance upon completion.

BUILDINGS

39

Building energy and emissions
A building's energy use, whether electrical or
thermal, remains one of the largest sources
of CO2 emissions in any given university and
thus requires significant attention. Identifying
key stakeholders who have the greatest level of
influence over building design and operations,
and getting their buy-in, is critical to making
significant reductions to planned and ongoing
energy consumption. Defining minimum standards for buildings and technology is a good
place to start.
Engaging building occupants is also critical.
The full potential of energy-efficient design
and technology can only be realised if the occupants and operators are informed and committed.
Energy efficiency should be embedded in buildings from the very start, and planners should
insist that sustainability initiatives are not value-managed out of building projects. A small
upfront cost can generate significant financial
savings and emission reductions over the lifetime of the building. Good thermal and lighting design can also improve the work/study
environment and boost performance and wellbeing.
Heating, cooling, and ICT (data centres, computer labs, etc.) contribute to a significant portion of a universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carbon footprint, so addressing these will have a significant impact in
reducing the energy footprint.
Finally, it is important to monitor progress on
energy savings and CO2 emissions, and communicate this internally to management, staff,
students and external stakeholders.

40

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
â&#x20AC;˘ Establish low carbon standards for
new buildings, retrofits and existing
buildings and develop strategies to
achieve them.
â&#x20AC;˘ Set carbon emissions targets for all
buildings according to best practice standards for relevant building
types. Buildings from outside the
university sector can provide ideas
for relevant benchmarks.

Thinking ahead when designing and setting
clear goals is of great importance. Good research regarding all parameters including siting, occupant behaviour and building regulations helps to set the boundaries and provide
information about the design limitations. An
integrated approach reduces emissions, minimises the building footprint and reduces
the impact on the surroundings. Minimising
impervious surfaces will reduce flooding and
overheating in the microclimate. Use of energy
efficient equipment and eco-friendly products
within the building can also serve to enhance
performance and reduce the overall footprint.

BUILDINGS

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Understand
occupant ing
behav
and the un iour
iq
requiremen ue
different se ts of
of a buildin gments
g
serve to op will
performanctimise
e

Occupancy patterns
Understanding and optimising a buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
occupancy patterns can often lead to solutions that will save energy and improve thermal comfort. For example, a single university
building may include offices, computer rooms,
libraries and lecture rooms. Lecture rooms and
offices are predominantly used in the daytime,
hence they should be situated to take full advantage of natural light and passive heat gains.
Computer rooms and libraries are occupied
from morning to late at night, therefore the focus should be on optimising artificial lighting
and reducing cooling needs (due to higher heat
loads from people and computers).
A smartly oriented building can minimise energy usage. Therefore, it is important to understand occupant behaviour and the requirements of different segments of a building in
order to optimise building performance.

BUILDINGS

41

HURDLES AND
SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS FOR
BUILDINGS
How do we convince senior managers
and project managers (or planners and
designers) to implement high standards,
despite a perception of higher associated
costs?
The actual costs of green certification schemes
are approximately 2% of the overall project costs,
yet measures to reduce energy consumption can
mean the initial investment will be repaid four to six
times over a period of 20 years .

How can we show that a
certification scheme could
be beneficial?
Critically assess the outcomes of
implementing a certification and
whether or not they guarantee the
vital features of the buildings, such
as low carbon emissions and
low energy usage.

Apart from energy and
water efficiency, what other
economic benefits can
building sustainably provide?
Greater comfort and benefits to
health are perhaps the most important economic effects of building
sustainably – as research shows, it
raises productivity.

42

BUILDINGS

What are the benefits of an integrated
design process?
An integrated design process (IDP) involves a holistic
approach to high performance building design and
construction. It relies upon every member of the
project team sharing a vision of sustainability, and
working collaboratively to implement sustainability
goals. This process enables the team to optimise
systems, reduce operating and maintenance costs,
and minimise the need for incremental capital .

How can we make sure we
get the most out of our
initial investment?
Following up with and informing
building occupants how to use
the building optimally is fundamental to ensuring that you are
maximising the initial investment.

Is it worth investing in a certification
scheme that is only valid for three years?
Even though assessments of existing buildings by
some certifications can be expensive and only valid
for three years, the investment is still worth it. The
short validity of the assessment is beneficial in that it
ensures constant upkeep of a building’s high performance , and external parties know that the assessment is up to date.

BUILDINGS

43

CASE 6
BREEAM AND
THE UNIVERSITY
OF OXFORD'S
SUSTAINABLE
BUILDING POLICY

F
T Y O
ERSI D
V
I
N
U
OR
OXF

4

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

In February 2009, the University of Oxford's Buildings and Estates Sub-Committee agreed that all new university buildings and
major refurbishments should aim for a rating of BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Assessment Method) 'Excellent' for a
trial of one year, which was then extended yearly. Nineteen major
projects are currently undergoing or have undergone BREEAM assessments, including three refurbishments and four projects that
commenced prior to February 2009, and which subsequently adopted the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ target.
Evidence suggests, however, that a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating
does not guarantee that the given building will be a low energy or
low carbon building. In response to this shortcoming, University of
Oxford's Environmental Sustainability Team created the Sustainable Buildings Philosophy in 2011 to complement the guidelines in
BREEAM certification . This is a set of documents that aim to help
the university’s Estates Services deliver sustainable buildings with
a particular focus on low carbon outcomes.
For universities with a key focus on reducing carbon emissions, a
BREEAM 'Excellent' target (or equivalent) for broad sustainability
gain coupled with a focus on carbon emissions through mechanisms, such as the Sustainable Buildings Philosophy serves to tailor the BREEAM standards to the university.
Year after year, the methodology has become more embedded
in the university’s design process, and now design teams, project
managers, and Project Sponsor Groups consider sustainability in
building design.

44

BUILDINGS

External recognition of these certifications means that external
parties can see the university as an environmentally aware institution that cares about sustainability.
Whilst meeting the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ benchmark comes with
many challenges, especially in the case of refurbishments and
highly specialist buildings, the BREEAM framework promotes
a rigorous approach to broader sustainable-design issues. Even
projects falling short of the ‘Excellent’ rating have nonetheless achieved a higher standard than they might otherwise have
reached if the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard was not adopted; that
way, the sustainability aspirations are set out from the outset.

The Frank Fenner Building, which houses the Fenner
School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University, was designed and built to achieve a six
star Green Star rating in both ‘design’ and ‘as built’. In order to achieve the impressive zero net kg production of
CO2 per annum, a range of energy and water saving initiatives were incorporated into its design:
• 80% of the demolition and construction waste was
recycled
• a 40kw solar photovoltaic array capable of generating
over 65000 kWh a year, where excess is fed back into
the grid
• a hybrid air-conditioning unit
• passive ventilation systems aided by a traffic light
system and operable windows
• high-grade insulation, including double-glazed
windows

The major challenges involved building a six-star facility on
the chosen site on a limited budget with a variety of site constraints and user requirements. The size of the site and the
orientation made it difficult to situate the building, especially
with protected trees on the landscape. Most of these challenges were overcome by good building design and value
management sessions intended to align scope and budget. The main thing that made this project a success was that
the consultants/clients and builder were all working together,
and kept a ‘keep it simple’ approach – using basic building
principles and uncomplicated technology to achieve the result.
The Frank Fenner Building guarantees a comfortable interior temperature, thanks to passive ventilation and control of
heating and cooling. It supplies 150% more outside fresh air
than what the current Australian standards dictate, minimises
off-gassing of pollutants into the office space from building
materials and products, and maximises natural lighting and
external views.
www.fennerschool.anu.edu.au/about-us

BUILDINGS

47

CASE 8
LIFE CYCLE
COST
ANALYSIS
The Building and Constructions Infrastructure Division of ETH Zurich thinks about its buildings' sustainability holistically. Hence,
the ‘Triple Bottom Line’ – incorporating all three dimensions of
environment, society, and economy – must be addressed during
planning, construction, and operation of the buildings.

ET

RI
H ZU

CH

Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Analysis is a method for assessing the total
cost of ownership of a building, and LCC is also an integral part of
some certification schemes. LCC should not be confused with Life
Cycle Assessments (LCA).
LCAs are used to evaluate the environmental costs associated with
a product, process, structure, or activity. They identify energy and
materials used, as well as wastes released to the environment.

4-5
DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

LCC is a cost-based analysis tool; it aims to identify the most costefficient building design and construction strategies over the life
of a building. ETH Zurich developed the LCC tool as a quality assurance tool. It conducts economic analyses by evaluating the
relative cost-effectiveness of alternative buildings and buildingrelated systems or components. LCC takes into account all the
costs of acquiring, owning, and disposing of a building or building
system.
Research buildings have to be very flexible during their life cycle,
as they have to meet the requirements of an ever-changing research focus. LCC is based upon assumptions that multiple building-design options can meet programmatic needs and achieve acceptable performance, and that these options have differing initial
costs, operating costs, maintenance costs, and possibly different
life cycles. By considering all the costs associated with all aspects
of building and maintaining a facility over its lifetime, planners are
able to make more environmentally sound and cost effective decisions from the outset.

Start the design process by organising an ecocharette with different stakeholders at the university
and continue the process.
Develop guidelines highlighting sustainability aspirations for the university, and how these relate to new
build and refurbishment projects.
Remain flexible in the initial design process in order
to enable building spaces that are easily modified and
serve a variety of purposes for a diverse group of users over the lifetime of the building.
Aim for the highest standards when designing a new
building or a retrofit of an existing one. Get advice
from the national green building council in your area.
Choose which green-building certification scheme
you will use – the best known include: BREEAM, LEED,
GREEN STAR and DGNB.
Decide which existing buildings on campus have the
potential to be retrofitted to a green-building standard, and start with those.
Remember to follow up. Measuring and auditing are
fundamental to ensuring you get the most from your
investment in sustainability.

50

BUILDINGS

A Closer Look
Eco-charettes, formerly called ‘Integrated Design Workshops’,
aim to foster the opportunity for the design team to thoroughly
brainstorm energy-performance options with various experts
and stakeholders before constructing the building. The eco-charette conducted during the design of the Li Ka-Shing Center at
UC Berkeley was supported by the Berkeley National Lab (LBNL),
in addition to the project design team.
As a result, an exhaustive matrix of more than 50 energy-efficiency options were developed. The input of the participants
along with the employment of LBNL’s ‘Labs21’ ratings system
helped to reinforce and guide decisions toward higher energy performance in the building. Such a collaborative effort is
most effective when all the players are invited to participate
from the very beginning of the building process.
For more information, see:
www.facilities.berkeley.edu/greenbuildings/LiKaShing/Details.htm

Providing knowledge
about the total energy
costs of running
laboratories can build
motivation for more
energy-efficient behaviour
in those who use them

52

LABORATORIES

A
R
O
B
S
A
L RIE
O
T
CHAPTER 4

Fume hoods, ventilation systems, chemical waste, and equipment
make laboratories one of the biggest challenges for universities
striving to become more sustainable. The challenge lies in balancing the requirements for research and safety with the technical management of equipment, including Heating Ventilation and
Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, user needs and behaviours.
Reducing â&#x20AC;&#x2030;energy consumption is one of the most important aspects of making laboratories more sustainable because energy
consumption is generally four to six times higher than in ordinary
office buildings (electricity consumption per m2 is often five to
six times higher, and heating four to five times higher). Fortunately, it is possible to get substantial results from fairly minor
adjustments, such as switching off equipment not in use.
Users constitute another important focus area, though they are
often neglected or deemed less relevant. However, it is absolutely â&#x20AC;&#x2030;vital that those who use labs are made aware that sustainability and high-quality research are not mutually exclusiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;; it is indeed possible to accommodate sustainability and high standards
simultaneously.
Naturally, all laboratories are not directly comparable. Working
in a biological, chemical, or physics lab will entail different challenges and possibilities for the implementation of a green approach in terms of cost reductions, the improvement of health
and safety, and the optimisation of workflows. However, providing knowledge about the total energy costs of running laboratories can increase the motivation for more energy-efficient behaviour in those who use them.

LABORATORIES

53

Challenges and
Opportunities
Energy consumption
Several studies show that roughly half the energy consumption within laboratories is related to ventilation, including general laboratory
ventilation, fume boards, Laminar Down Flow
(LAF) benches, and suction hoods.

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Managing
laboratorie
s
according t
actual use o
is
key

Managing laboratories according to actual use
is key, and while they may frequently used outside of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;office hoursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, keeping everything operational 24/7/365 is unnecessary. Implementing
time controls for ventilation systems, including
demand-responsive ventilation, is one way to
regulate use. Implementing a default setting at
OFF for ventilation equipment at night may also
prove an effective way to saving energy and
thus reduce costs. However, it is vital that information about ventilation shutdowns is systematised to circumvent the risk of researchers breathing toxic fumes in labs that have not
been sufficiently ventilated.
For physics laboratories in particular, storing
secondary equipment, such as vacuum pumps
that produce a lot of excess heat, in a specially
designated room is highly recommended. This
will reduce the heat load in the labs themselves,
and it will also allow for a more energy-efficient
cooling of rooms where the equipment is stored
(for example, allowing for higher room temperatures, using water loops as cooling media,
etc.). This will not merely help green the laboratories, it will also save universities money, and
it will improve health and safety for the users.

54

As labs use a wide range of energy intensive
equipment/systems, retrofitting existing systems and equipment, as well as investing in
new and more energy-efficient systems/equipment will also allow for significant reductions
in energy use and offer long-term savings.

LABORATORIES

2/3 OF THE OVERALL
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF COPENHAGEN IS IN
LABORATORIES .
SEVERAL STUDIES
SHOW THAT ROUGHLY
HALF THE ENERGY
CONSUMPTION WITHIN
LABORATORIES
IS RELATED TO
VENTILATION .
LABORATORIES

55

Purchases
Buying the cheapest lamps, chillers, freezers,
ovens, and pumps on offer does not necessarily constitute the most sustainable approach
to purchasing. Calculating the life-cycle cost
over three to five years may very well reveal
that energy-efficient equipment, while possibly
more expensive at purchase, will prove cheaper
in the long run.

Usage and storage
As a general rule, carrying out regular maintenance work on any lab infrastructure is one
way to ensure optimal usage of the equipment.

Also, ordering in huge quantities is often considered a price-conscious tactic, yet health and
safety should be a constituent consideration
when buying chemicals, which is why buying
in smaller amounts can often be a greater benefit. This will also tie up less money in stocks,
and thus universities gain on several levels (for
further information, see Chapter 7. Green Purchasing).

Chemicals
As many laboratories hold large quantities of
surplus chemicals, often disposed of as waste
at considerable cost, knowing precisely which
chemicals are stocked becomes vital for the optimisation of usage. While precise labelling of
chemicals may sound like the obvious thing to
do, it is not necessarily common practice. Setting up a communal storage facility with the
possibility for internal exchange will diminish
waste, reduce costs in relation to procurement
from outside suppliers, and will help researchers with not having to wait for materials to be
delivered, which in turn will improve performance efficiency. If and when possible, substitution with less hazardous alternatives will
also reduce health and safety risks, as well
as environmental impacts and costs (e.g., by
avoiding special waste costs).

Water
Water is a valuable and increasingly expensive resource, so reducing its use should be
considered whenever applicable. For instance,
researchers should not use water-jet vacuum
pumps because they use huge amounts of precious drinking water, and they should only use
closed-circuit cooling water loops for cooling
equipment/experiments. Minimising the use of
deionised water is also important, as it is very
costly to produce (both in terms of energy consumption and the use of chemicals for purification).

Waste
Waste tends to be much more expensive than it immediately appears, as costs are usually split into different budgets; hence, no
one is fully aware of the total figures. Getting rid of broken, obsolete, or surplus equipment – often sitting idle for years, taking
up space that could be better utilised for productive research – is
one way to reduce waste. Another is optimising recycling rates
and procedures, such as:
• Providing convenient recycling facilities (consumables and
packaging waste).
• Implementing careful separation of clinical/hazardous waste.
• Ensuring that suppliers collect containers/packaging.
• Implementing charts, reuse tables, or similar mechanisms to
ensure that unwanted equipment, materials, etc., can be donated, exchanged, sold or disposed of safely.

LABORATORIES

57

HURDLES AND
SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS FOR
LABORATORIES

How do we know if freezers
contain unwanted or
obsolete samples?
Have researchers and lab personnel register their samples, complete
with a use-by date . All samples
that are not recorded in the register
should be discarded by lab personnel after a certain time, which is
made known to all relevant parties.

Which fume cupboards can be shut off
without jeopardising safety?
All empty cupboards without chemicals or spills
should be shut off. Even cupboards with a permanent experimental setup for student exercises can be
shut off, provided they do not contain chemicals or
evaporative fluids/materials, and if accepted by the
Health and Safety Department.

58

LABORATORIES

How do we make sure that
new lab users comply with
the given instructions?
Whenever someone new starts using a lab, make sure they are carefully instructed in environmentally sound behaviour and safety
regulations. Lab managers should
be dilligent about monitoring use
and providing feedback when an
individual's procedures require
alteration.

How do we know what
equipment to focus on?
Have students help with a general
inventory of energy consumption
by using the numerous manual or
wireless metering solutions that are
already available.

How do we know which
chemicals can be discarded?
Have researchers and lab personnel
label the chemicals they use. Products claimed after a couple of weeks
(or whenever everybody has been
given sufficient time to label them)
can then be discarded.

How do we get students, lab personnel,
and researchers to turn off equipment not
in use?
Drawing attention to the overall energy consumption
of a given apparatus can prove an important point of
departure. This can be done either by simply stating
its annual energy cost or by displaying graphs of
energy consumption on a computer/tablet in the lab
or communal spaces (see Case 9).

In the 2009 Green Action campaign, one key action for the
green ambassadors was to encourage their colleagues to
pull down the sash when not using the fume hood.
An analysis of the campaign showed that 26% of the fume
hoods were left fully or partially open before the campaign,
while only 8% of the fume hoods were left open after the
campaign . The entire campaign, of which the sticker initiative was one aspect, saved the university an estimated 2.7
million kWh per year or approximately USD 800,000 per
year. The total campaign cost was around USD 100,000.
Continually addressing energy awareness and behaviour is
vital if results are to be sustained and further developed,
and this is also one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption.

2

Read more about the behaviour campaigns at UCPH:
www.groengerning.ku.dk/info-eng

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

60

LABORATORIES

24,200

KWH/YEAR

4,500

KWH/YEAR

The stickers (3 x 65 cm) were
placed directly on the fume
hoods, right beside the sash. The
top was red with an unhappy
smiley and the words "24,200
kWh/year" while the bottom was
green with a happy smiley and
the words "4,500 kWh/year".

CASE 10
ENERGY
VISUALISATION
The Gurdon Institute at the University of Cambridge embarked
on an energy-awareness initiative in 2012. A gentle approach was
adopted, asking people to think about energy rather than telling
them what to do.

OF
IT Y E
S
R I DG
IV E
UN AMBR
C

3

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

THE CAMPAIGN FEATURED:
•

Posters with facts and figures of specific relevance to the researchers at the Gurdon Institute.

•

An inter-lab competition with a GBP 1,000 prize.

•

A ‘Gurdon Energy Pledge': 75% of all institute
members signed up, promising to think about
saving energy , and were rewarded with coffee
and cake.

•

A real-time sub-metering system, the ‘Tracker’,
was put in place as an energy-visualisation tool to
help make staff more aware of the impact of their
actions on energy use.

•

A league table was produced, and researchers
competed with each other to save the most energy and win the prize . By the end of the campaign’s first year, the labs had reduced their
electricity usage by 19%, saving GBP 20,000 per
annum.

62

LABORATORIES

R248
BR AN D LAB

electricity
reduced by

The most successful lab reduced their
electricity usage by over 50%, from 600
kWh to 300 kWh per month, saving GBP
350 per annum. The league table is calculated every 30 minutes and is available
for all staff to view online.

.8%
52 ,8
R3 12
GU RDON &
B0
4,50
JACKSO N LA

R335
B
AH RING ER LA

KWH/YEAR

electricity
reduced by

23.3%

R210
RAWLIN &
LIVESEY LABS

electricity
reduced by

17.7%

LABORATORIES

R218
MZG LABS

electricity
reduced by

7.7%

63

electricity
reduced by

22 .8%

R148

MINSKA & BO RR

OWERS

electricity
reduced by

5.7%

QUICK TIPS

›
›
›
›
›

Make inventories of lab equipment
including energy consumption/costs.
Perform night audits to identify
what equipment is left switched on
overnight, and make sure to distribute
this information to everyone using the
laboratory.
Develop inventories of stored chemicals,
and implement use-by dates.
Register all samples in freezers, with
owners and use-by dates noted.
Store secondary equipment, such as
vacuum pumps that produce a lot of
excess heat, in a specially designated
room.

64

LABORATORIES

A Closer Look
Through the newsletters from S-Labs, you will find the latest examples of good practice within green laboratories, which can point
you in the direction of deciding which practices you may want to
more closely examine in your own lab. These include:
•

G
N
N
I
E
S
E
A
R
G RCH
PU
Universities procure a remarkable array of goods and services.
Universities that house highly technical and laboratory-based research are faced with particularly impactful commodities, including lab equipment, chemicals, and IT systems. Other commodities to be considered include stationary, office supplies, vehicles,
and food. Finally, universities are frequently constructing and
renovating buildings, which requires choices about materials,
building management systems, furniture etc. All of this means
that there are ample opportunities to integrate sustainable procurement standards into campus projects and policies.
Goods and services can make up a substantial portion of an institution’s annual budget. At ETH Zurich, for instance, the annual
expenditure in this category is roughly 40% (see page 69). Therefore, ‘green purchasing’ affords an opportunity to demonstrate
environmental leadership, while stimulating a part of universities'
demand for environmentally preferred goods and services. This
is why it should be an integral part of the commitment to sustainability.
However, purchasing is far from an unproblematic subject to address, as it deals with the potential conflicts between short-term
budget savings for the university and long-term environmental
‘gains’ for society at large. Green purchasing must be considered in terms of both supply chain and disposal; i.e., including
a product’s entire lifecycle, rather than merely short-term savings because, while buying a green product may at first appear
expensive, it could in fact turn out to be cheaper in the long run.

Challenges and
Opportunities
Lifecycle perspective
To the greatest extent possible, universities
should identify opportunities to save money
and streamline systems by purchasing less.
There is no single definition of sustainable procurement or green purchasing, and applications vary across organisational hierarchy and
sector. One definition could be that a lifecycle
perspective, a service, or a product has a significantly reduced environmental impact compared to the average product or service.
All stages in the lifecycle of a product offer
the potential for optimisation/minimisation of
the product's environmental footprint. Buying
green means to prefer an environmentally beneficial alternative – this supports innovation in
the supply chain of the product which ensures
further progress in the development of environmentally sound solutions.
Organisations practicing sustainable procurement meet their needs for goods, services, and
utilities. They work not on a private cost-benefit analysis, but with a view to maximising net
benefits for themselves and the wider world.
Green purchasing in particular encourages the
evaluation of multiple environmental impacts
of every product throughout its lifecycle.
68

Procurement
There are numerous practical considerations
for each of the procurement phases – planning,
acquisition, use, maintenance, and disposal –
to ensure that environmental considerations
are included in procurement decisions. And, as
purchasing at universities is often controlled
by the individual institutes – i.e., organised in
a decentralised fashion with limited pooling –
know-how about green purchasing is scattered,
as there is no central accessibility.
GREEN PURCHASING

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
=> Circular Economy
Grounded in the study of non-linear, particular
living systems, circular economy is an industrial economy that is restorative by intention, and
which aims to rely on renewable energy; minimising, tracking, and hopefully eliminating the
use of toxic chemicals, as well as eradicating
waste through careful design.
Manufacturers and retailers must increasingly retain the ownership of their products
and, where possible, act as service providers
GREEN PURCHASING

– selling the use of products and not one-way
consumption, while consumers must redefine
themselves anew as users.
Circular economy involves careful management of materials flows: biological nutrients,
designed to re-enter the biosphere safely and
build natural capital, and technical nutrients,
which are designed to circulate at high quality
without entering the biosphere.

69

Bidding procedure
If a university has to procure goods in large
amounts, an open competitive bidding process
is often conducted. This is a great opportunity
to inject transparency into the call-for-proposals in terms of requirements and specifications,
including the environmental criteria. But avoid
requirements that result in vague wording.

Purchasing behaviour
Green purchasing is best promoted through a
mix of policies and best practices. Central efforts to identify and clarify preferred practice
will offer a good foundation. This should be
complemented by communications and tools
aimed at informing daily purchasing choices.

CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR
NEXT CALL-FOR-PROPOSALS:
• Set technical specifications and incorporate certain minimum environmental requirements.
• For eco-relevant procurements,
include environmental suitability
criteria (e.g., specific ecological
know-how that can be backed up
with the relevant certificates or
documentation).

• Shopping lists for high-volume purchase
areas, such as labs and break-rooms.

• Checklists to minimise the number of deliveries to campus.

• A portal for re-use or material exchange.

70

GREEN PURCHASING

Training
It is key to inform employees generally about
sustainable procurement standards. Staff members oversee purchasing and vendor negotiation, and individuals whose jobs require that
they make frequent, large-volume purchases
may benefit from training or green supplychain certification. Making these community
members aware of the impacts of their choices
has the potential to create cultural shifts.
Naturally, one should always be aware of certain departmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; need for specialised products, where centralised procurement and green
alternatives are simply not viable options. However, when possible, coordination of purchases
will save money and reduce waste.

GREEN PURCHASING

71

HURDLES AND
SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS FOR
GREEN PURCHASING

How do we implement an
overall purchasing strategy?
Begin by implementing a charter or
strategy on sustainable procurement in
your purchasing department . This is a
transparent way to show your providers the requirements and processes for
their next orders.

How do we achieve a
significant impact through
green purchasing?

How important is the initial
price vs. lifecycle costs?

Estimate the overall importance of
green purchasing in various areas ;
buying electricity from renewable
sources, for instance, will have a
dramatic impact on overall ecological footprint, whereas using recycled
paper may constitute a tangible but
not a highly significant effort.

There is a perception that green
products are more expensive than
conventional alternatives. However,
‘green’ products often have lower
lifecycle costs. For example, a nontoxic alternative to a toxic product
will cost less to transport, store,
handle, and discard . It will require
fewer permits, less training of personnel, and the consequences of an
accident will be greatly reduced.

72

GREEN PURCHASING

How do we choose the best
products and services?
Set up sustainable purchasing
guidelines that will simplify choices
for employees and ensure that
end-users do not have to do all the
research. Also, make sure that these
guidelines are adhered to within the
entire department and, whenever
possible, cross-departmentally as
well.

Is bundling purchases a good idea?
As with all other purchases, buying in bulk can
be advantageous, as you can obtain better
prices and apply greater pressure to provide
‘green’ options .

Should we focus on a shortterm or long-term strategy?
Changing behaviour is never easy,
and while it may appear tempting
to get rid of old products in favour
of new ‘green’ products it is better
to aim for long-term roadmaps for
‘green purchasing’ of two to five
years in order to allow people to adjust to new products , and to ensure
that the market has been thoroughly
researched. It may also be more
beneficial to use up some products
rather than dispose of them.

How do we get outside
vendors to comply
with the need for green
products?
Identify at least one vendor
in each major commodity
group who has demonstrated
a commitment to sustainable
practices. This demand-side
approach will put pressure
on vendors seeking preferred
status at your university.

GREEN PURCHASING

73

CASE 11
PURCHASING
ULTRA-LOW
TEMPERATURE
FREEZERS
In 2013, the first supply contract that integrated environmental considerations was signed by the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and two vendors of Ultra-Low Temperature (ULT) freezers (-80 Celsius/-112 Fahrenheit).

O

SIT Y
VER HAGEN
I
N
U PEN
O
F C

The contract was conducted through a bidding process:
the winners offered the lowest unit price, calculated via
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) including energy consumption, making energy consumption 2/3 of the total price.
The outcome was a win-win-win: The cheapest possible
prices for the researcher, lowest energy cost for the university, and reduced CO2 emissions for the global climate.
The supply contract on ULT freezers entails purchasing
50-100 freezers annually in four size categories, totalling
200-400 freezers in the four years the agreement runs at
present; this means a calculated energy savings of 30%
compared to other freezers on the market.

4

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

The potential environmental effect is a reduced energy
consumption of 5,000-10,000 MWh, corresponding to approximately 3,000-6,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. These
energy savings will result in monetary savings of approximately USD 2.5 million over 15 years.
In addition to reduced energy consumption, the contract
also stipulates that the vendor, when delivering a new
freezer, is required to dispose of the replaced freezer in
an environmentally sustainable manner.

74

GREEN PURCHASING

30%

A project group comprised of representatives from UCPH,
the procurement section, Green Campus, and users worked
on the initial tender in order to ensure that the products and
services in the final agreement would reflect the requirements. Combining usersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; requests with environmental considerations proved a challenge in the bidding process, as it
also had to respect the principles of transparency in order to
secure a competitive price.
As there was no standard for monitoring -80 C freezers,
UCPH carried out a range of energy-consumption tests under similar conditions, and the results were used for evaluation. Hopefully, UCPH can put pressure on the industry to set
its own standards for measuring energy consumption, which
can then become a competitive parameter. Test procedures
and further information are available from UCPH.

GREEN PURCHASING

75

CASE 12
CENTRAL
PURCHASING
OFFICE
L E
YA SIT Y
R
E
V
I
UN

4

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

Yale has a central purchasing office that manages most
of the university’s vendor negotiations and contracts.
This unit sets policies and offers guidance to employees
throughout the university vis-à-vis procurement.
In an effort to inform and empower the core purchasing
group and the high-volume purchasers, the Yale Sustainability Strategic Plan commits to two types of training programmes: the central procurement managers are asked to
complete training with an external entity that will certify
them as ‘green procurement professionals’. After this, the
high-volume purchasing employees are asked to complete a Yale-specific training module, which is offered by
the on-campus learning centre.
A final component will be the development of a set of preferred product sheets by commodity type. These will be
available to all employees with purchasing power, and they
will effectively be sustainable purchasing guides for key
areas, such as break-rooms, events, and labs.

76

GREEN PURCHASING

With this programme, the university will benefit from betterinformed professionals who will receive an additional line
item on their CVs. The establishment of checklists will also
encourage assessment of current practices and products,
and hopefully inspire new approaches. Furthermore, Yaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
new procurement strategies are being developed in coordination with Yaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waste-management team, which means
that the university will be setting standards for prioritising
less waste-intensive products.

GREEN PURCHASING

77

QUICK TIPS

›
›
›
›
›
›

Start with energy consuming products, as this will result in cost savings
and reduced CO2 emissions.
Use existing purchasing structures
and partner with existing organisations.
Go for products that are very visible,
thereby promoting and inspiring environmental considerations.
Start with products that promote winwin situations.
Start green purchasing products that
have a considerable and well-developed market.
Go for products that have been
awarded a well-regarded certification
label.
78

GREEN PURCHASING

A Closer Look
A recent study of a Technical University in Norway has
shown that the largest share of CO2 emissions (75%) attributed to the university are emissions related to purchasing
products and services. The climate footprint for the Techinal
University in Norway is:
•

FURTHER READING
LITERATURE
‘Buying Green!’. A handbook on environmental
public procurement,
European Commission, DG
Environment

LINKS
‘The Story of Stuff’

‘Recommendations for the
federal procurement offices’, Federal Department
of Finance FDF, CH
‘How Our Obsession with
Stuff Is Trashing the Planet,
Our Communities, and Our
Health – and a Vision for
Change’. New York. Free
Press, 2010
McDonough, William, and
Michael Braungart. ‘Cradle
to Cradle: Remaking the
Way We Make Things’. New
York: North Point Press,
2002

Transport accounts
for a significant and
growing share of
a university’s carbon
footprint

80

TRANSPORT

T
R
O
P
S
N
A

CHAPTER 6

TR

Transport accounts for a significant and growing share of a universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carbon footprint. An increasing demand for international collaboration and knowledge sharing has lead to rising CO2
emissions, with international flights being by far the biggest contributor to CO2 emissions from transport at universities.
Road transport is also a major contributor, due to commuting to
work or study, daily goods deliveries, and fleet vehicles, which
present additional local environmental problems, including air
pollution, noise, and congestion. Additionally, car parking takes
up considerable and valuable campus space that has the potential to be used for other purposes.
Influencing entrenched, routine travel behaviours is very challenging. Promoting green modes of transport by influencing
positive attitudes and perceptions is crucial to change behaviour.
Offering sustainable transport modes as the norm rather than an
alternative to the conventional reliance on cars can help influence peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transport choices. One of the best opportunities to
establish greener behaviour is when employees and students are
new and have yet to settle into a routine.
To create healthier options, an overall campus plan needs to include transportation, and conflicts of overall objectives have to
be taken into account, critically analysed, and communicated
transparently. Working alongside local government and planning
authorities is also crucial to optimise local public transport solutions.

TRANSPORT

81

»

Cycling and
walking
should be
strongly
encourage
d

Challenges and
Opportunities
Internal campus transport
Many universities cover large areas and often have
more than one campus, so transport to and from and
between campuses is unavoidable. However, the method of transport is a choice and, rather than only thinking of the quickest way, universities need to consider
the greenest way. While cars can sometimes prove
necessary, cycling and walking should be strongly encouraged.

To offer people an alternative to using their cars:
• Facilitate bicycle use by installing bike racks/safe
storage next to entrances, as well as safe paths.
• Offer access to free/cheap bikes, provide bike hire,
etc.
• Offer interest-free loans to purchase public transport season tickets.

HOW MUCH DO
COPENHAGEN RESIDENTS
CYCLE?
• 52% of all Copenhageners
cycle to their place of work
or education every day.
• Four out of five Copenhageners have access to a
bike.
• There are 650,000 bicycles
in Copenhagen and approx.
550,000 inhabitants.

82

TRANSPORT

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
HIERARCHY
Many of the barriers to sustainable transport are either simple,
logistical issues or common
misconceptions about the
practicality and convenience of
alternatives to driving. When
addressing transport, this sustainable transport hierarchy can
be useful.

Commuting
An increase in car transport is leading to more
and more time spent in traffic congestion on
motorways. Fortunately, promoting greener
internal campus transport options can contribute to improved commuting choices outside of
the university. A simple way to reduce transport is by offering flexible working conditions
that enable employees to occasionally work
from home.
To offer people an alternative to cars:
• Collaborate with local authorities to establish direct and safe bicycle paths between
housing areas and campus.
• Offer access to lockers and showers for bicycle commuters.

Long distance travel
and video conferencing
The focus on increasing cross-collaboration
between universities and the internationalisation of researchers and students has led to an
increase in long distance travel – mainly from
air travel. One way to combat this is to promote
video conferencing (VC) as an alternative option. Advantages of VC include saving time and
money while reducing CO2 emissions.

GREENER CARS

• Involve and collaborate with local publictransport providers/authorities to organise
optimal public transport solutions.

• Green the fleet – phase in hybrid and
electric vehicles and set fleet vehicle
emissions and efficiency standards.

• Make buses a viable option by providing
real-time schedules and subsidising passes
for staff and students.

• Courses on efficient driving have shown
that 5-10% savings in fuel consumption is
achieved on average.

• Create a carpooling programme that includes an online matching system to assist
drivers in finding ride-sharing companions.

84

TRANSPORT

Âť

One way to
combat an
increa
travel is to se in air
p
and suppor romote
conferencint video
g

UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN,
CO2 EMISSIONS IN 2012:
Electricity
District heating
Natural gas
Transport

Effective deployment of VC requires management to prioritise and clearly allocate responsibility within the organisation. It needs an
organisational setup that includes IT and communication resources. To ensure a successful
first-hand experiences with VC, it is recommended to have IT staff on hand for at least the
first two VC meetings.

26%
49%

Including VC in a staff induction module is a
good way to introduce the benefits, and make
new employees aware that such technologies
exist. Other information efforts are needed to
ensure existing employees know the options
and facilities that are available.

2%
23%

OFFSETTING
Carbon offsets are typically credits for
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
made at another location, such as wind
farms, which create renewable energy
and reduce the need for fossil fuel powered energy.

At UCPH, international flights make
up approximately 90% of the workrelated CO2 emissions from transport.
The work-related transport share of
total emissions (transport and energy
consumption) has grown from 16% in
2008 to 26% in 2012.
Source: Green Accounts 2012, Green Campus,
University of Copenhagen.

TRANSPORT

85

HURDLES AND
SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS FOR
GREEN TRANSPORT

How do we promote the
use of public transport?
Offer free/subsidised bus and
train passes , for specific university
bus routes.

How do we create more
environmentally friendly
transportation on campus?
Install bike racks and safe storage,
and provide shower facilities and
onsite cycle maintenance. Offer
access to free/cheap bikes on
campus.

How do we break the perception that
driving a car is quicker and cheaper?
Emphasise the cost efficiencies of cycling and
walking. Provide tools for staff and students to
calculate the real cost of motoring . You can also
set parking charges at a point that makes using
public transport more attractive. Redirect income
from these charges to support sustainable transport options.

86

TRANSPORT

How important is it
to partner with local
organisations?
The campus represents
only the tail-end of most
commuter trips so working alongside a variety of
stakeholders, including local government and NGOs
will help to optimise local
public transport solutions .

How can we establish
greener transport
behaviour?
Promoting green modes of transport by encouraging positive attitudes and perceptions is crucial
to change behaviour. Offering
sustainable transport modes as the
norm rather than an alternative to
the conventional reliance on cars
can help influence people’s transport choices.

What are the benefits of carbon
offsetting?
Carbon offsetting presents the possibility of
100% reductions – achieved cost-effectively
and immediately. At the same time, the
money paid to carbon offsetting projects
helps communities globally to get on a low
carbon path . In order to ensure the quality
and integrity of carbon offsets, a robust programme of standards, verification processes,
and registries must be in place.

The Australian National University (ANU) has actively promoted and supported a greater uptake of more sustainable
transport modes since the 1990s. This has been coordinated through a variety of initiatives, such as the university's
carpooling programme, an increase in on campus accommodation, the construction of bicycle infrastructure across
campus, and the establishment of Australia's largest corporate bicycle fleet .

The ANU Environmental Management
Plan (EMP) seeks to maximise sustainable
transport and has set the following
targets:
1. Increasing green commuting to 80% by
2015, and minimising single-occupant
vehicles.

4

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

2. Reducing fleet vehicle emissions 20%
by 2015, and continuing to offset 100%
of fleet emissions.
3. Offsetting 100% of the carbon dioxide
equivalent load from air travel by 2015.

88

TRANSPORT

The Timely Tredlies departmental bicycle programme
Established in 2006, the Timely Tredly campus bike fleet is one of
the largest corporate bike fleets in Australia. More than 100 bikes
are situated in buildings around campus, available for staff and
research students to get around campus and surrounds during
the day. The popularity of the fleet has steadily increased over
the years and monitoring of bike usage indicates that some of the
bikes travel more than 2,000 km per year and are preferred alternatives to fleet vehicles for many users. Feedback from users
also indicates that, for users who are unaccustomed to cycling, the
bikes increase their familiarity, comfort, and confidence in riding.
http://facilities.anu.edu.au/services/transport/timley-tredlies

Offsetting air travel
The establishment of the ANU Carbon Reduction Fund in 2011 created a transparent means for ANU business units to offset business-related air travel. Contributing business units pay a tariff on
flight costs, which contributes to funding carbon reduction initiatives on ANU properties and bulk purchases of Gold Standard or
VCS-accredited offsets.

University vehicle fleet
Emissions for the vehicle fleet have been steadily and consistently
decreasing each year since 2006. While there has been some marginal improvement in the overall fuel efficiency of the fleet and
fuel substitution in favour of LPG over this period, the primary
contributing factor has been an overall reduction in mileage . This
suggests that the strategy of providing non-polluting alternatives,
such as the campus bike fleet, have been very successful but also
that there is significant room to further reduce emissions through
greater efforts to improve vehicle efficiency and introduce low/
zero emission vehicles.

TRANSPORT

89

CASE 14
BUSINESSTRAVEL
TOOLKIT
In 2012, the University of Oxford produced a practical
guide that gives advice to staff planning a business trip to
help them choose the most appropriate travel mode, while
also promoting alternative non-travel arrangements for
staff wanting to save time and money.

Y OF
RSIT
E
V
I
UN XFORD
O

The guide acknowledges that, for many, travel is an invaluable and enjoyable experience. Video conferencing would
never, and should not, completely replace air travel. Faceto-face interaction is important from time to time in any
ongoing project. For this reason, the guide recommends
that it is important to begin by targeting frequent flyers as
the best avenue to reduce air travel .
The travel toolkit also promotes trains whenever possible .
There is often a misconception that flying saves time, but
once getting to and from the airport, check-in queues, security checks, etc., are taken into consideration, the time
difference can be minimal.
www.admin.ox.ac.uk/media/global/wwwadminoxacuk/localsites/
estatesdirectorate/documents/travel/business_travel_toolkit_FINAL.
pdf

2

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

90

TRANSPORT

CASE 15
CAMPUS GREEN
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
ING
PEK SIT Y
E
V R
UNI

With an overall road-planning strategy that clearly separates pedestrians from motor vehicles , Peking University
actively encourages walking and cycling by placing cars
outside of the campus . In 2008, with cooperation from the
local government, car-parking spaces were constructed
in the surrounding area, helping to reduce the frequency
that motor vehicles enter the campus. At the same time,
a shuttle-bus service was introduced to offer staff and
students an alternative way of getting around the different
campus sites.
To reduce the frequency of vehicles entering the campus,
the shuttle-bus service encourages mobility between the
main faculty residential community and campus. While it
has provided convenience for university staff and alleviated the pressure of campus traffic, it has also helped reduce
energy consumption, pollution and emissions.

5

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

TRANSPORT

91

QUICK TIPS

›
›
›
›
›
›
›

Promote green transport behaviours when
employees and students are new and have
yet to settle into a routine.
Facilitate bicycle use by installing bike
racks/safe storage next to entrances, and
by providing safe paths.
Provide access to lockers and showers for
bicycle commuters.
Collaborate with local authorities to
establish direct and safe bicycle paths
between housing areas and campus.
Support staff using alternative transport –
provide bus passes and promote Ride To
Work Days.
Create a campus shuttle system that runs
on hybrid or electric power, or switch
existing fleet to a hybrid or electric vehicles.
Replace older vehicle fleets with newer,
fuel-efficient vehicles.

92

TRANSPORT

A Closer Look
The University of Oxford conducted a survey of staff who
were identified as frequent flyers in order to investigate
their potential to reduce air travel by an increased adoption of videoconferencing.
Key findings of the survey included:
The top reasons for air travel were to: (1) attend conferences, (2) attend meetings, and (3) give lectures.
•

71.2% of overseas meetings/conferences involved 10
or more people, 17.3% were one-to-one meetings.

•

The majority of respondents (67.2%) feel that overseas
business travel is a stressful experience.

•

The majority of respondents (63.9%) feel that lost productivity is a drawback of travel.

•

The majority of respondents (57.4%) feel that video
conferencing can be a good alternative to business
travel.

Strong communication
and effective dialogue
among all parties is
essential

94

COMMUNICATION

CHAPTER 7

M
M
O
C

N
O
I
T
A
C
I
N
U

Effective communication is a fundamental part of building a sustainable campus as it can lead to greater awareness of environmental issues and better adoption of sustainable practices. It
also promotes the commitment of a university to the cause, all of
which are vital to encouraging positive environmental behaviour
and embedding a cultural shift at every level.
Universities have diverse and fragmented audiences, democratic
management structures, and fierce academic independence, so
implementation of change from above is not likely to succeed on
its own. Strong communication and effective dialogue among all
parties is essential, reinforcing the vision of a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sustainable universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and thereby stimulating structural changes and collective
development.
To create institutional change, the many individual projects and
pockets of activity that are taking place unknown to most must
be brought into the mainstream and communicated more widely
to both internal and external stakeholders. In doing so, results
can be showcased, commitment conveyed, and ideas can be
shared and further action inspired.
Campus sustainability practitioners need to send empowering
messages to bring about changes in attitude and behaviour.
Communicating with an authentic, clear, and consistent voice
will help build trust, and create teams and networks, which will in
turn generate greater influence among colleagues and students.
When communicating the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sustainability performance to an external audience, transparency and accountability
are crucial.

COMMUNICATION

95

Challenges and
Opportunities

Collaboration
Whether the goal is to reduce electricity use,
increase recycling rates, or enhance student
engagement across the university, the sustainability office cannot do this alone. It needs
employees and students to clearly understand
what they should do and why before they will
act in a positive way. It is all too common that
staff and students may only hear from the sustainability office when asked to do something
that could be seen as an inconvenience, so the
sustainability agenda is often perceived as negative and sometimes patronising.
Collaboration between sustainability and communications officers is a vital starting point to
help highlight what a sustainability office is doing to create a sustainable campus.

96

This can be a mutually beneficial relationship,
as the sustainability office can provide the internal communications office with regular and
engaging news stories. Once this collaboration
has been formulated, it is important to ensure
that any actions or campaigns have sufficient
resources to communicate outcomes and successes.
Proactively highlighting the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to sustainability can then help motivate individual behaviour. Finding opportunities to showcase proposed positive actions or
campaigns on noticeboards and internal newsletters, the university website, or campus newspapers can play an important part in helping
spread information and change behaviours.

COMMUNICATION

Common Identity
It is not uncommon to find different environmental posters and messages within a building
on campus, put up by different departments,
administration offices or student groups, due to
the democratic management structure of the
university. This is why it is important to have
a strategic goal in mind and to develop an integrated communications plan whereby the mix
of media, tools, and messages is aligned with
the intended outcomes. It is also crucial that
this communications plan is developed before
launching any sustainability initiative, rather
than as an afterthought. Having an integrated
communications plan, anchored by a common
identity driven by the sustainability office, and
supported by other collaborating offices and
student groups, will mean that the target audience is more likely to be drawn to the messages rather than be confused by the multiple
exhortations.

COMMUNICATION

Âť

It is import
ant
to have a
strate
in mind, an gic goal
d
develop an to
communica integrated
tions
plan

Some campaigns, such as awareness of recycling schemes, will try to target every member
of the university. However, there are other messages that need to be more targeted. Therefore,
when developing these campaigns, it is important to work with the target audience; otherwise, there is a risk that the message will not
connect with them.

97

Âť

The effects
of successf
u
sustainabil l
ity
communica
t
io
n
on
campus ca
n go far
beyond univ
boundaries ersity
Keeping it fresh
A student population is renewed every three to
five years, so much information and knowledge
disappears. Yet the effects of successful sustainability communication on campus can go
far beyond university boundaries. Universities
are more than just educators; in addition to formal education, they also have the capacity to
raise environmental awareness about the role
each person has to play in finding solutions.
Giving them the right tools will enable them
to acquire this knowledge and implement it
throughout their lives.
Universities also face the challenge of having
to reinforce sustainability messages without
sounding repetitive. For messages to be inspiring and persuasive, they have to offer a fresh
perspective on a persistent environmental challenge. The language used should aspire to shift
mindsets, and to advertise an improved quality
of life. Messages have to go beyond emails to
more face-to-face interactions. And while posters do have a purpose in reminding target audiences of the actions they need to take, one too
many could lead to â&#x20AC;&#x153;poster fatigueâ&#x20AC;?.

98

COMMUNICATION

SIX PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION

1. USE INSPIRING WORDS.
2. PUT FORWARD A POSITIVE
AND DESIRABLE VISION – THEN
MAKE IT RELEVANT, CONCRETE, AND ACHIEVABLE.
3. KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU ARE
TALKING TO AND TALK TO
THEM – NOT AT THEM.
4. BE HONEST, OPEN AND TRANSPARENT – NEVER TELL HALF
THE STORY. BE HONEST ABOUT
YOUR SITUATION.
5. STRESS THE ADVANTAGES AND
BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABILITY.
6. REMEMBER TO TALK ABOUT
SUCCESSES SO FAR.

COMMUNICATION

99

HURDLES AND
SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS FOR
COMMUNICATION

How do we reach different,
fragmented audiences?
Assign an internal ‘green champion’ within individual departments who can provide a local
focus, understands the culture of the department, and can adapt a targeted message to
the audience.

How can we simplify calls-toaction?
The complexity of sustainability issues
needs to be reduced and simplified –
boiled down to what really matters to
people when they are making changes
to their lifestyles – what will be the
personal benefits?

100

COMMUNICATION

How can we catch people’s
attention?
By purposely staying away from
the narrative of doom-and-gloom
and instead creating an attractive
and appealing vision for people to
move towards. Give them a vision of
the future.

Why are we losing people's
attention?
Neglecting to communicate your
work and successes to the university
community and always asking them
to do something more will lead to
fatigue and a lack of interest in your
goals.

How important is a
sustainability report?
A regularly updated report shows
commitment and progress towards
sustainability goals and is a positive
branding and recruitment opportunity for potential future students
and employees .

COMMUNICATION

How can we raise the
profile of the sustainability
office?
By having clear and consistent
branding, which can then be
used in all communications and
engagement material – from
posters to stickers to merchandise.

101

CASE 16
INVOLVING
STUDENTS AS
MESSENGERS
OF
IT Y A ,
S
R
I
IV E
RN
UN LIFO LEY
CA RKE
BE

2

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

To tackle the challenges of communications on a large, decentralised campus, UC Berkeley built a team of student
‘Communications Associates’. Directed by the Office of
Sustainability, the team of three to five undergraduates
leads a range of campus-wide communications efforts
aimed at achieving their long-term sustainability goals.
This is an ongoing effort, which requires around USD
4,000-5,000 in funding annually.
The student team works on a range of activities each year,
executing a comprehensive marketing and outreach campaign to encourage programme participation and behaviour changes, while expanding the culture of sustainability
at UC Berkeley. Each student communications team mentors and trains the next generation of outreach coordinators, who will take full reign in the second year.
The key to this initiative has been taking the time upfront
to involve students with the right skillset, and who can
commit to working with the Office for at least two years.
This continuity is critical to the success of the programme.
It is also important to find the right balance between training the students and providing them with guidance, while
encouraging their creativity and helping them to find their
own voices. Finally, even the small cost of the programme
can be difficult to fund. However, it is important not to rely
on student volunteers, as this can hinder both continuity
and commitment.

102

COMMUNICATION

A team of students commit
to a two-year programme,
working on a range of
communications efforts to
enhance sustainability on
campus.

COMMUNICATION

103

CASE 17
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
COMMUNICATIONS

L
IO NA
NAT SIT Y OF
ER
E
V
I
R
N
U
AP O
SING

3

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

A key strategy of the National University of Singapore
(NUS)'s Office of Environmental Sustainability (OES) is
to engage students and staff on social media platforms,
such as Facebook, Twitter, and the university website. To
establish an effective online presence, the OES team applies consistent branding across all communications channels based on its ‘sustainABLE NUS’ campaign. Among the
social media platforms, OES mainly uses Facebook, as it is
highly popular among students and is the most useful tool
for sharing content.
Using social media allows the OES to tap into existing networks to spread sustainability-related messages. Bearing
in mind that social media space is dominated by peer-topeer interactions, response to the content published by
OES is not guaranteed, as it could be interpreted as coming from a formal, authoritative source.
The team actively listens to its stakeholders in the digital space to gain insight into their concerns and interests,
which translates into a more careful selection of content
and writing styles. To retain a captive audience amidst
competition from numerous social media sites, OES manages the conversation calendar on its Facebook page by
selecting and trending wide-ranging topics, and posting
fresh and appealing content to establish a visual connection with its users.

104

COMMUNICATION

NUS' Facebook page is used to
engage students and staff in campus
sustainability initiatives and activities.
www.facebook.com/nusoes

COMMUNICATION

105

CASE 18
TRANSPARENT
SUSTAINABILITY
REPORTING

ETH

ZU R

ICH

2-3

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

ETH Zurich's first Sustainability Report was published in
the 2011 Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The GRI sets
the highest quality standards for sustainability reporting
among the business community. To date 5,500 organisations worldwide in various industries (including approximately 100 universities) have already created sustainability reports according to GRI guidelines.
Sustainabil­ity reporting has a long tradition at ETH Zurich.
Reporting began in 2003/2004 with energy reports and
the reporting has since progressed into the university's
first environmental reports (2005-2010) leading to far
more comprehensive sustainability reports in 2011-2013.
The sustainability report is a key element of ETH Zurich's
strategic sustainability plan to engage all stakeholders,
including employees, the public, the Swiss parliament (as
the main funding body), peers, NGOs, and sustainability
leaders from the private sector. In addition to a great deal
of positive feedback, there has also been press coverage
in major Swiss newspapers, critically discussing ETH Zurich's approach to a sustainable university. This facilitated
a more in-depth discussion on the university's role as a
pioneer in sustainability, and also presented some further
fields for action. Therefore, it is crucial to demonstrate
what sustainability really means to the organisation, set
realistic targets, and promote the achievements towards
reaching those goals .

Keep the message clear and simple.
Make sustainability fun and desirable.
Use visual elements to communicate numbers, figures and percentages.
Collaboration between the sustainability office and the internal communications office is crucial.
A communication plan needs to be
developed before launching any initiative.
Make sure any actions or campaigns have sufficient resources to
communicate outcomes and successes.

108

COMMUNICATION

A Closer Look
Making Sustainability Fun – ‘The Penguin Makes a Difference’
Over the past five years, the Green Action Campaign at the University of Copenhagen has promoted energy-efficient behaviour.
As part of their campaign, a friendly yet resolute stuffed toy penguin was used to help reduce energy waste in offices and laboratories around campus. Over time, more than 300 penguins were
distributed among the university’s 250 Green Ambassadors, who
volunteer to promote more sustainable behaviour among their
colleagues.
The penguins travel from desk to desk, cheerfully reminding forgetful colleagues of good energy habits, such as turning off computer screens while having lunch or turning off heaters when the
windows are open. The little stuffed animal works as a nudge; a
cheerful reminder that encourages greener behavior without the
finger-wagging and negativity often associated with this kind of
campaign.

Leaders need to
locate passionate
individuals in a
variety of campus
positions, and then
engage them

110

EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

CHAPTER 8

E
T
E
Y
N
E
O
L
D
P
T
U
T
N
M
E D S ME
E
N
G
A GA
EN
Vibrant and engaged communities of students, supported by
equally engaged academic and operational employees, provide
a rich resource for envisioning and instigating changes on – and
beyond – campuses. When students leave university, they bring
not only their education but also their behaviour into the outside
world.
The consistent and predictable turnover of students, the departments’ academic and research focuses, and the generally cautious nature of campus operations personnel, however, challenge
the community’s ability to fluidly respond to new sustainability
initiatives. In contrast, engagement within the academic setting
allows for expansive, horizontal communication with and to a diverse and inherently curious campus community.
Fostering a culture of environmental awareness is imperative,
and it should saturate the entire campus community, which is
why sustainability programme leaders need to locate passionate individuals in a variety of campus positions, and then engage
them in projects, policies, and operational initiatives that can
range from more encompassing educational outreach to more
specific and local projects, such as establishing water-refill stations and ecological restoration.
Both student and employee motivation can be stimulated by
operating certification programmes and implementing sustainability awards, as well as arranging sustainability summits and
meaningful events that offer recognition across the entire campus community.

EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

111

Challenges and
Opportunities
Funding

Students and employees
Students are typically idealistic, motivated,
and creative. However, they are inherently a
transient population, generally only at universities for two to six years. Yet the huge influx
of new energy also provides great potential for
new ideas and perspectives on how sustainable
solutions can be implemented, as well as what
areas should be targeted.
Permanent employees (both academic and nonacademic), on the other hand, offer stability and
continuity in the incubation and implementation of new programmes on campus. The challenge here lies in creating an environment that
supports employees who may not be inclined to
initiate and implement changes to take on new
ways of doing things within a context of limited
resources and habitual behaviours. For academic employees, the expansive and far-reaching goals of global research initiatives, which
often transcend application in the immediate
and local setting of campus operations, provide
an additional obstacle.

112

Having access to financial assets in relation to
the development and implementation of new
ideas is one of the main challenges to getting
anything done. Establishing a green fund supported by studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fees, and to which any
member of the campus community can apply,
is a highly effective way of both involving and
enabling all community members.

Engagement
Student engagement
Between classes, jobs, clubs, and social priorities, students often find allocating time to explore a role in some kind of larger activism difficult, so universities have to provide attractive
entry points and education opportunities to
show students that getting involved in campus
sustainability initiatives has powerful impacts
and long-term benefits â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both personally and
for the university. These could include student
internships, education offered through classes,
and giving incentives for saving energy in residential dormitories. Allowing the students a
certain amount of autonomy and creativity is
vital to sustain interest. Tasking students with
identifying and recruiting future leaders also
assures smooth transitions and succession
planning.

EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Âť

Fostering a
culture of
environ
awareness mental
is
imperative

Employee engagement
Many employees will have a direct interest in
implementing sustainability practices, but they
often lack information and the resources to become more active. What is needed is relevant
support and allocated time to focus on making
significant changes in their departments, as
well as visible leadership that empowers employees to take on initiatives and implement
new practices into their jobs.
This can be achieved by establishing a sustainability office (if one is not already in place) to
operate programmes tailored to staff-level engagement, such as certification programmes
and events, as well as advisory committees,
task forces, and work groups.

EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Academic engagement
For departments, it is key that sustainability
initiatives align with the departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research
interests and offer areas for engagement that
complement areas of research. Engaging an
academic community of highly motivated and
focused professors, as well as teaching and research employees, presents a substantial challenge; thus, interests must be matched with opportunities.
Creating a Steering Committee consisting of
campus leaders who are assigned the task of leveraging the participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; valuable time within their specific areas of expertise will afford
the initiated programmes an authority that is
needed to engage the non-student campus population.

113

HURDLES AND
SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS FOR
EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT
ENGAGEMENT

How do we make
sustainability a high
priority in research-lab
environments?
Commit a cross-disciplinary team
to researching the feasibility of
waste reduction and energy savings
in lab settings, and hold discussions
with principal researchers about
how they can reduce the environmental impacts of their research.
Partner with existing interest groups
already engaged in lab operations,
such as safety committees.

How can we combat competing
priorities within research
environments?
Create a cross-disciplinary team to
research green behaviour in labs and
link it to EHS/WHS.

114

EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

How do we challenge the perception of
behaviour-change impacts as negligible
and inconvenient for individuals?
Reward and publicise efforts, and provide recognition and incentive outside of the measured success
or impacts of projects. Provide visible support from
top leadership for sustainability initiatives.

How do we encourage
student and employee
commitment and
collaboration?
Incentivise student participation
through paid internships, utilise
online collaboration tools, clearly
enumerate the hours per week
expected from participants, and
publicly reward efficacy with recognition and prizes. Offer students
the opportunity to participate in
regional and national sustainability
conferences and programmes with
their peers.

How do we make employees see
sustainable practices as an inherent
part of their job description and area of
responsibility?
Hold outreach, education, and training sessions
while also outlining sustainable concerns as an
integral part of the job for new hires. Make sure that
department leadership communicates this message
to staff.

Students Against the Violation of the Earth (SAVE) at the National University of Singapore has been highly successful in
initiating change through monetary incentives. A plastic bag
tax and a rebate for individuals who use reusable lunch boxes
and water tumblers are the most recent initiatives to incentivise waste reduction. SAVE was inspired by a student survey,
which indicated widespread support (87% of students) for the
reduction of plastic bag usage, and thus initiated a plastic bag
tax of SGD 10 cents.
SAVE collaborated with the university’s administrative offices;
e.g., those overseeing retail and dining outlets, as well as environmental sustainability, to implement the tax at five canteens,
several bookstores, and some retail outlets spread over two
campuses.
The tax does not go to vendor profits, but instead to the NUS
Sustainability Fund for student-initiated environmental projects, such as building community gardens and composting
food waste. It was implemented in 2009 and remains the only
control on plastic bag use in Singapore.

3

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

The tax is effective as the implementation of an overall conception of NUS: There may be general support for sustainable
practices, but also a lack of awareness or incentive to modify
behaviour and practices. In the words of SAVE Vice President
Woon Wei Seng, “(Ten cents) might be a small barrier, but it
is one that will force people to re-think: Do they really need
that bag?”
The tax serves as an added incentive to create sustainable
behaviour; it constitutes that small, final push that may result
in individuals changing their attitudes and habits in relation to
consumption.

116

EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

117

CASE 20
SUSTAINABILITY
SERVICE CORPS
Yale’s Sustainability Service Corps takes a more structured approach to assessing and realising changes. Since 2011, the Corps
had been organised under the Education & Outreach Manager in
the Office of Sustainability , and it consists of four teams:

L E
YA SIT Y
ER
V
I
UN

1.

Energy Squad (5 students)

2.

Materials Management Team (5)

3.

Green Events Consultants (5)

4.

College Coordinators (12)

Each team is managed and assisted by a graduate student and
student designer.
The 2013-2016 Yale Sustainability Strategic Plan and its companion document, the Sustainability Action Plan, together provide
goals and initiatives that the four teams implement in collaboration with other organisations, thus configuring student-led efforts
into a more cohesive approach.
The Energy Squad is currently involved in a project developed by
Yale’s Energy Manager. The first (and completed) phase involved a
process of performing energy audits and benchmarking buildingenergy usage in comparison to peer building types. The second
phase engages the student employees in executing a nuanced
analysis of behaviour and energy use.

3

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

Focusing on energy usage during unoccupied times; i.e., nights
and weekends, the Energy Squad has been conducting energy
surveys to identify saving opportunities, and collecting information about plug loads and personal energy usage.
Other teams are completing parallel projects, including the creation of composting and other waste diversion programmes, and
green events consulting. Yale’s Sustainability Service Corps is
effective in their structured pursuit of outlined university goals,
and empowered by their knowledgeable staff supervisors as productive change agents.

A fun and effective way to engage staff is to offer formal training on how they can help achieve campus sustainability goals.
The staff sustainability training – called "WORKbright green"
in which over 60 employees at UC Berkeley have participated –
equips employees with tools to make informed choices that will
improve sustainability in the workplace and at home, to bring
green projects back to the office, and to collaborate with other campus sustainability advocates. The training is needed to
spread information, and offering in-person training helps attendees make connections and build a community of sustainability.
Employees learn about campus sustainability goals and gain
campus-specific competencies in:

CREATING LESS WASTE
methods to reduce, re-use, recycle, and
compost

3

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CONSERVATION,
AND REDUCTIONS IN ELECTRICITY USE
implementing best practices in the workplace
MONEY
grants and funding available to employees
for green-campus initiatives

120

EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

GREENING CAMPUS BUILDINGS
GREEN PURCHASING
making sustainable buying decisions at work
USING LESS WATER
identifying ways to reduce campus use
STUDENT-LED SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
finding ways to work together to green operations
CAMPUS TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
making more environmentally-friendly choices

EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

121

QUICK TIPS

›
›
›
›
›

Establish a sustainability office (if one
is not already in place).
Have students and employees
arrange different events, such as
a ‘Celebrate Sustainability Week’,
to raise awareness of your general
sustainability goals.
Brief new staff about sustainability
initiatives, and follow-up with
mandatory employee and student
environmental-awareness training
sessions.
Visibly reward participation in
sustainability initiatives.
Create a network of communication
for facilities managers to discuss
best practices in relation to greening
initiatives.
122

EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

A Closer Look
Green Impact at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford is an
environmental accreditation scheme designed to promote, support, and recognise the achievements of departments in adopting more environmentally-sound approaches to their work practices. Departments work towards bronze, silver, or gold awards
through fulfilling a variety of clear environmental criteria set
out in a workbook.
The scheme is supported by students who are trained as project
assistants, and it covers environmental management skills, environmental communications, group work, as well as time management. Students are also trained as auditors to conduct audits
of departments, gaining invaluable experience.
www.environment.admin.cam.ac.uk/getting-involved/green-impact-staff-andstudent-engagement-programme

Universities are often at the forefront of innovation and their academic
research and teaching can contribute directly to health, well-being, and
prosperity. Frequently regarded as well-established and respected organisations, universities have a unique and influential role to play in the
quest for a more sustainable future. With core missions of excellence,
innovation and education, universities bear a responsibility for visioning
and realising a more sustainable future as they educate the future leaders of our society and economy.
To this end, many universities have developed programmes to foster applied research and education by using their campuses to test real-time
sustainability solutions. This approach is commonly referred to as a ‘living lab’ or using the ‘campus as a classroom’. Living lab projects offer
the possibility for students and academics to convert theory to practice,
which also leads to greater engagement with the material and a more
well-rounded educational experience.
An institution represents a microcosm of the society in which it exists
and by treating the campus as a laboratory for exploring the concepts
of sustainability as they relate to the operation of the physical campus
and to teaching, research and organisational processes, a university can
model sustainability to the wider community.
Sustainability leadership is about creating a shared vision, inspiring positive change, building capacity, empowering others, leading by example,
facilitating change and harnessing innovation and creativity to foster a
culture of sustainability within and beyond the organisation. Universities
demonstrating leadership in the realm of sustainability do more than
just implement energy efficiency measures – they give substance to a
sometimes murky and ill-defined concept and make sustainability part
of a wider discussion. Active and more sophisticated discussion, planning, and ultimately action is what will allow communities to craft the
future they desire rather than be swept along with a tide of competing
policies and priorities.
UNIVERSITIES AS CATALYSTS
CATALYST FOR
FOR
A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

Challenges and
Opportunities
The main concern about implementing the
‘campus as a living lab’ is whether or not the
university can live up to expectations, follow
through with its intentions, and reach its set
goals. The opportunities that becoming a leader in sustainability promise are great, but the
challenges can be just as great. Will the university’s practices reflect their research into sustainability? Will the university’s rigid structure
allow for a change of habits? Will the university
be able to ensure a strong commitment from
management to circumvent political and financial constraints?

Opportunities to act as an
agent of change
Universities cannot and do not act as self-contained entities; they function in the context of
a local region and therefore can act as leaders
in their community. By embedding sustainability into an institution’s teaching, research and
operations, the university creates multiple opportunities to act as a change agent.
One of the primary ways a university can act
as a change agent for sustainability is to of-

126

fer students of all disciplines a firm grounding in the concepts of sustainability. By doing
so, graduates are prepared to be responsible
citizens with broad knowledge about systems,
how sustainability is applicable to their chosen field, and how their behaviours affect the
world around them. Knowledge and experiences gained during their years at university can
encourage students to enact positive change in
their lives post-graduation as well.
Pursuing a culture of sustainability can influence staff habits, too. Organisational culture
plays a critical role in a transformation towards sustainability, as the ways in which employees think and feel about their organisation
shape their behaviour. Employees who identify
strongly with their organisation will be more
likely to align their behaviours with the needs
of the organisation in order to achieve their collective (sustainability) goals.

UNIVERSITIES AS CATALYSTS FOR
A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

As it relates to sustainability, leadership might
include engaging with staff and students to promote environmentally-responsible behaviour,
providing (compulsory) sustainability education to all students, and offering a best-practice
operational model to the wider community. Going further, sustainability leadership involves
facilitating knowledge exchange so that others
can realise their leadership potential as well.
There is no place for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;trade secretsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in sustainability within the higher-education sector. By
freely offering information on objectives, methods, successes, and failures, we motivate other
institutions and communities to set similarly
ambitious goals, and we advance the dialogue
on an issue of global importance.

UNIVERSITIES AS CATALYSTS FOR
A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

The benefits of actively and consciously demonstrating sustainability leadership within
and beyond a particular institution are many.
In addition to more efficient use of resources
and lower emissions, sustainability initiatives
offer reputational benefits, a lower risk profile,
reduced operating costs, and even the potential
to attract and retain students and staff with
respectable green credentials. By sharing information about the strategies and processes undertaken to realise these benefits, a university
demonstrates innovation, excellence and leadership in a manner that is both concrete and
of great value to society and the environment.

127

Interdisciplinary collaboration
Increasing collaboration around sustainability
issues can lead to a greater feeling of ownership
and responsibility among both employees and
students, and can help to create a wider culture
of sustainability at the university. Students
get an opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired during their studies, and gain practical
experience and skills that will help them in
their future careers.
In their teaching and research, academics can
benefit by having the opportunity to bring their
research ideas to life and test them on their
own campus. Some academics have incorporated projects into their curricula, which means
that students are able to experience creative
and dynamic learning.
Such interdisciplinary projects allows for direct
collaboration with industry, which not only
ensures applicability of the knowledge gained
but can even generate extra revenue for the
university.

128

Funding and research
Resource constraints on both finances and human capital can limit the extent to which a university can lead in sustainability, both within
and beyond the institution. A strong commitment from management is needed to bypass
political and financial constraints.
Academic research on the campus itself may
not produce usable results for the university.
Students who undertake living lab projects
can lack project-management experience, particularly in terms of the costs for a project but
also applicable legal restrictions. Making sure
there are strong connections between the programme and facilities management will benefit
the research. Before research begins, it is important to have agreed outlines of research proposals and to have completed risk assessment.

Structure of a living lab
One major hurdle faced by all institutions is
creating a living lab that fits with the needs and
structure of the institution. The structure of a
universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s living lab is very much dependent
on the internal structure of the university, as
well as what works best for university employees and students. Some universities have created a programme that connects and unifies all
of the related research activities occurring on
campus while others just open the campus up
to research, and projects are created more independently and organically.
Projects that have been done at living labs across
the higher-education sector range in size and
scope. A living lab project can be something as
small as an energy audit or a biodiversity study
done by students to something larger, such as
piloting a new technology in a new building and
assessing its effectiveness. The benefits of having a campus as a living lab are often clear for
a university and its members, but the path to
creating a living lab is less obvious.

5. MEASURE, BENCHMARK,
MONITOR, REPORT, AND
COMMUNICATE RESULTS USING
INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE
STANDARDS; E.G., THE GLOBAL
REPORTING INITIATIVE.
6. EXTEND YOUR INFLUENCE
TO THE WIDER COMMUNITY
BY HOSTING WORKSHOPS
AND CONFERENCES IN
CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER
SECTORS.

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131

HURDLES AND
SOLUTIONS
QUESTIONS FOR UNIVERSITIES
AS CATALYSTS FOR A
SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

How do we deal with a lack of funding?
Develop projects that could lead to savings for the
university. Arrange for a percentage of the savings
to be allocated back into the programme . Partner
with relevant stakeholders who can provide funding,
support and/or data for the project. Apply for government funding, if possible.

How do we deal with
a lack of institutional
support?
Create an advisory group of
interested members of the university including staff, students
and academics who can reach
out to their peers to propel the
programme forward.

How do we deal with unrealistic
project ideas from students?
All projects should be monitored by
an internal supervisor , who challenges
the ideas, provides required know-how,
and facilitates internal connections.

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UNIVERSITIES AS CATALYSTS FOR
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How can we get better
participation from
students and student
groups?

How can we make sure
the research will produce
usable results?

Offer incentives such as paid
internships, competitions and
awards, and consider offering certified training in specific areas. Utilise social media
channels and use positive and
fun messages. Employ student
ambassadors for peer to peer
education.

Begin with good data and a
tightly scoped project . It is
important to agree upon project outcomes and ensure that
research proposals are clearly
directed toward tangible results
for the university.

How do we deal with
a lack of academic
support in projects?
How do I deal with a
lack of staffing and
coordination?
Employ a staff member to
coordinate the living lab. If that
is not possible, form an interdepartmental steering group to
coordinate efforts .

How do we overcome a lack of
accountability and ownership that
prevents engagement with sustainability
initiatives?
Embed sustainability into organisational policies,
procedures, and practices, and develop management plans, benchmarking, and reporting structures.
Incentivise and encourage community participation
in order to make sustainability an element of organisational culture .

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133

Determine which campus
projects are best suited
to the living lab model
and approach academics
in related disciplines with
suggestions for project
ideas.
Once there are solid
examples of the effectiveness of the living lab model, use these to engage
other academics.

CASE 22
CREATING A
LIVING LAB
PROGRAMME

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At the University of Cambridge, the goal of the Living Laboratory for Sustainability is to improve the environmental
performance of the university by using the estate to test
and research real-world environmental problems while improving the educational experience of students attending
the university. The living lab seeks to involve students from
diverse academic backgrounds in order to create dynamic
solutions to the operational challenges of the university. It
also looks to be a platform for academic faculty to suggest
and guide research on the university estate, and to be a
tool for management to improve the environmental practices of the university.
The Award Strand promotes innovation at the University.
It allows staff and students the ability to be recognised
for their work and ideas. The university benefits from the
research coming out of the living lab because it provides
a better understanding of the environmental issues that
need to be addressed, while also providing potential solutions to these issues.
www.environment.admin.cam.ac.uk/getting-involved/livinglaboratory-sustainability

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

134

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135

CASE 23
SUSTAINABILITY
LEADERSHIP

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In the twenty years since the launch of their
Business and Sustainability Programme, the
University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL) has focused on
building strategic leadership capacity within
the business and policy making communities to
tackle critical global challenges.
The organisation’s mission is to deepen leaders’
understanding of the social, environmental, and
economic context in which they operate, and to
help them to respond in ways that benefit their
organisations and society as a whole. As such,
CISL is explicitly aligned with the university’s
mission to promote teaching at the highest international levels of excellence, as well as its vision
and strategy for lifelong learning.
Bold and effective leadership from business,
delivered in partnership with government and
wider society, offers a potent means of tackling
our most serious social and environmental crises. CISL works with senior executives to inform
their individual leadership strategies, as well
as their organisations’ decision-making . It also
builds on the unique resources of the University
of Cambridge to define and develop more sustainable economic and political systems.

DIFFICULTY OF
IMPLEMENTATION

136

UNIVERSITIES AS CATALYSTS FOR
A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

Three examples of CISL'S leadership
groups are outlined below to illustrate
the nature of CISL'S activities:
1. The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group
The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group
brings together business leaders from major
UK, EU, and international companies who believe that there is an urgent need to develop
new and longer-term policies for tackling climate change.
www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/Business-Platforms/The-Prince-of-WalesCorporate-Leaders-Group.aspx.

3. Banking Environment Initiative
The Banking Environment Initiative (BEI) was
established in 2010 to identify new ways in
which banks can collectively stimulate the
direction of capital towards environmental and
socially-sustainable economic development.
www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/Business-Platforms/Banking-EnvironmentInitiative.aspx

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137

QUICK TIPS

›
›
›
›
›

Tap into existing knowledge and
partner with academics and operational staff to build project ideas
quickly.
Offer incentives for student and staff
participation, such as awards, internships and skill building workshops.
Connect and communicate with different departments to pool resources, both financial and intellectual.
Promote initiatives already in place
and celebrate successes with campus media.
Identify leaders within the university
who have achieved positive change,
find out what they have done and
extrapolate to other areas of the
university.
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UNIVERSITIES AS CATALYSTS FOR
A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

A Closer Look
Seed Sustainability is the project platform of ETH Sustainability; it acts as the link between research-related questions from
business and society, and the research interests of the university. Seed Sustainability establishes contacts with partners
from industry – in business, government, and other institutions
– that are interested in putting theory into practice.
The Seed Sustainability team looks for qualified students and
academic specialists and provides coaching that involves the
participation of everyone in the programme. This also encourages student research in sustainability-related topics, promotes
successful cooperation between scientific theory and practice,
and unites the needs and expectations of research, education,
and industry.
www.ethz.ch/en/the-eth-zurich/sustainability/education/seed-sustainability.html

FURTHER READING
LITERATURE
Brundiers, K. and
A. Wiek. ’Educating
students in realworld sustainability
research: Vision and
implementation‘.
Innovative Higher
Education
36:107-124, 2011
Brundiers,K. and
Wiek, A. ’Do We
Teach What We
Preach? An International Comparison of
Problem And Project
Based Learning
Courses in Sustainability’. Sustainability
5, 2013
McMillin, J. & Dyball,
R. , ’Developing a
Whole-of-University
Approach to Educating for Sustainability: Linking the curriculum, research and
sustainable campus
operations',

Transport
accounts for a
significant and
growing share of a
university’s carbon
footprint

»

Universities
demonstrating
leadership
in the realm of
sustainability
do more than
just implement
energy efficiency
measures

»

On average, we spend
approximately 70% of
our lives inside

»

There is no one template
for approaching
campus sustainability
initiatives but how these
are structured will shape
the university's capacity
for success and the
community's engagement
with the programs

140

GREEN GUIDE FOR UNIVERSITIES

»

Leaders need to
locate passionate
individuals in a
variety of campus
positions, and offer
them opportunities
for meaningful
engagement

»

Communicating
with an authentic,
clear, and
consistent voice
will help build trust
and create teams
and networks

»

The campus
itself should
be considered
a classroom, with
each element of its
operations a lesson in
how to live and work
more sustainably

»

Providing
knowledge about
the total energy
costs of running
laboratories can build
motivation for more
energy-efficient
behaviour in those
who use them

GREEN GUIDE FOR UNIVERSITIES

141

WHOÂ´S RESPONSIBLE?
This publication is made in collaboration
between the International Alliance
of Research Universities (IARU) and
Sustainia.

THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES (IARU)
The International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) was established in 2007 and
is a collaboration between ten of the world's leading research intensive universities.
IARU jointly addresses grand challenges facing humanity. The Alliance has identified
sustainable solutions on climate change as one of its key initiatives. As a demonstration of its commitment to promote sustainability, IARU has sought to lead by example
through establishing the Campus Sustainability Program, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of campus activities. It also organises international scientific congresses on sustainability and climate challenges.

SUSTAINIA

ABOUT SUSTAINIA
Sustainia is an international sustainability initiative where companies, experts, and
thought leaders come together to support and work with a tangible sustainability approach, based on readily available solutions and a motivating narrative. The work of
Sustainia equips decision makers, CEOs and citizens with the solutions, arguments, visions, facts, and network needed to accelerate sustainable transformation in sectors,
industries, and our everyday life.

HOW TO FIND MORE INFORMATION:
Australian National University: www.sustainability.anu.edu.au
ETH Zurich: www.ethz.ch/en/the-eth-zurich/sustainability.html
National University of Singapore, Office of Environmental Sustainability: www.nus.edu.sg/oes
Peking University: www.english.pku.edu.cn
University of California, Berkeley, Sustainability team: www.sustainability.berkeley.edu
University of Cambridge: www.environment.admin.cam.ac.uk
University of Copenhagen, Green Campus: www.climate.ku.dk/green_campus
University of Oxford, Environmental Sustainability team: www.admin.ox.ac.uk/estates/environment
The University of Tokyo: www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en
Yale University: http://sustainability.yale.edu/

IARU - Green Guide for Universities – pathways towards sustainability

Green Guide for Universities – IARU pathways towards sustainability developed by 10 leading international universities and the think-tank Sustainia. Targets key issues to address, recommendations and lessons learned when making universities more sustainable. Learn from 23 inspiring real-life cases that have made a difference.